New-York daily tribune., 1843-10-18
PRINCES PoEMs.-EY rArkE GOODWIN.

PRINCES POEMS--EY rARKE GOODWIN.
Two years have elapsed, since this man Prince
made his appearance above the chaos of London,
and yet no American publisher has thought Of
putting his poems to press-nay, worse than that,
no American Review has thought it worth while
to tell us of his existence. We admit that Amcri-
can publishers are not bound to reprint every
thing that makes its appearance in London in
deed, that American Reviews arc not bound to
notice every thing of that sort; but, at the same
time, we must say, that many things escape the
eve of both that it would have been well for them
to SEIZE Here, for instance, is an unpretendlng
volume of poems which deserve some attention.
Apart from the extraordinary history Of the au-
thor, 10 which we shall refer,] apart from the
singular circumstances of suffering under which
they may be said to have been squeezed out, they
have merit enough in themselves to pay one for
their perusa In truth, when we come to think
of it, we consider the fact, that we have not be-
fore heard Of this man here, pretty strong evil
dence that our literature is not properly watched
over or cared for; but, unfortunately, evidence
is not needed on that point. Why has not some
sacacious publisher, or some quarterly reviewer,
or some able editor let us know Of the claims and
whereabouts of this John Critchley Prince We
take it hard that they have allowed us to remain
in ignorance so long.
AS no other, then, has come forward to intro
duce the stranger to American readers, we shall
volunteer the duty ourselves glad IN having the
opportunity Of so agreeable chaperonsIllP.
Let US, then, say in the outset, that we look
upon him as altogether one of the most surprising
phenomena that have recently crossed our literary
horizon. He is one Of the rarest instances OF
the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties. =
No better exemplihcatlon than he could be found,
Of the miserable unfitness, of the dlscordancy
and despotism Of the radical vlclousncss OF our
modern modes of social organization. lbs lle
has been one continued and perous struggle for
bread. Society, when he only asked 1t for fish,
has riyen him a scorpion. Able to work and
vsling to work, with strong muscles, and heart
foil of all good scnSibilllics, he has yet wandered
over the earth like an outcast. There Is scarcely
a brute horse, in his native land, who has had a
harder time of it, in MS pinched and precanous
existence, than this full grown, noble-souled man
This is abundantlv shown by brief sketch
of the authors lite' preixed to his volume, and
vb;c}, VIC intend 10 avail ourselves Of, in what we
are now about TO say.
Prince was born at Wigan, small town OF
Lancashire, England, on the 2lst of June, IN the
year 1903 He is therefore, now, thirty five years
| of a1e. His father made reeds for weavers, cut
of the scanty pittance received for which, ne en-
deavorcd to rear family OF several ciuldren-
We say he endearored; for It does not appear
that he succeeded in that audablc purpose, that
he did accomplish at all times, the getting them
victuals and clothes for the body, and much less
spiritual food for the mind. They grew up, &C
cordingly, 80 far as he was concerned, without
education, save that which is derived from hun
per and hard work. Yet the mother, good SOUL
IAN intelligen. and industrious woman con,
,riyed in the nids, of her destltuton, to lnstl
good principles into their minds, and to provide
them occasionally with seat Ii the Baptlsl SAP
hath School. One of them, John, the subject OF
our present writing. seemed to have a natural
an,etite for books. He learned his letters almost
bv intuition, and was soon able to deVour every
printed thing that came IN his way. Every
e;snrs moment, that the rigorous exactions OF an
an annrcnt;ceship to the trade of his father allowed
b;n was devoted to the pursuit OF learning. Nor
was he always suffered to indulg lge himself, even
during these snatches of time; since he often eA-
nerienced harsh treatment at the hands ei Tue
game parent for what was supposed to be his M n
corr;oible and pernicous ideness In the soil
tarv hours OF the night, when all the rest os ias
faulty were in bed, he would steal iron unoes us
coverId, creep stealthiy down stars, ano' y VIC
Hour. with tas Muses., ), Jsha Csi'cAie7 rriaee
esaA edition Loadsa, !sis