New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-01-13

We truly hope hat this new monthly Magazine
will DC we'll sustained by the public to which i,
appeals for two reasons: first because i; eminent
y deserves to i've and secondly, because its bsr-
nj support will be no unworthy evidence cf higher
literary taste purer and loftier tone in the pub
lie mind than we have at present any very substan-
tial reason for ascribing it, The prncip al edi-
tor is we'll and widely known as one of the NOS.
gifted and promising poets in America and al,ho'
he eviuces occasionally more lively ambition TO
achieve what il technically called fine writing, .
than is quite 10 tsste, his Prose is extremely
elegant and vigorous, and his prevailing tone of
thought noble and elevatng. The introduction TO
his Magazine il .wtitten earnestly and rnode,tiy-
and gives most hopeful promise of the excellent
manner in which the undertaking viii be followed
up. Its spirit is decidedly and vigorously anti
sensual and for that we like it heartily: but it
has sight tendency toward, not trsnycendent
,reth, but trans aandental cant, which does Eot
please u.. We want says the editor, a
manly, straightforward, true literature, a criticism
which shall give more grace to beauty, and more
depth to truth, by loving ly embracing them where
ever they may lie hidden, and a creed whose truth
dom from all creedS This may be all well
enough, but we cunnut understand what definite
meaning the writer attaches to creed which cor.
sis,s III q freedom from all crceds." Ii ne
inIends precisely what he says he seems TO us t.
use words teithaut meaning: but ii he means
creed no. irDned upon ctners, carrying lis worth
in its truth no, in It's haying b EN- believed belor-
4 IL, n..- II
OF this general chsrectec deem blemishes: but
they do not blind us to the real worth the Iofiy
literary spirit the earnest hearted tone of tn
Magazine.
The Plays of Thomas Middleton F." are the
subjectof line critical paper by the Editor, which
conrsins in addition TO the review of the immed.
ate SUBJECT, some admirable and beautiful thought,
on Poesy and Human Life. We quote the CLOSING
passage for it, truth aud manly bodncss:
There is simplicity and -lanly directnosi IN
old writer's OF tragedy, winch comes 10 us
with the more fresh iess in a time so conventions
as our own. In tbcr day, If the barrier betwec
castles was more marked than it is now, that be
tween hearts vas less so. They were scers in
decd, using reverently that gift of Inward
sight which God has blessed them with, and noi
daring TO blaspheme the divinity Of Beauty, BY
writing OF what they haI not and truly icit II
their own hearts aud lives. Its one of the reins
mcnts Of more modern school which teaches ar
lists 20 opsm their mouths and shat their eyeS,as
children are playfuy told to do and wait for some
mysterious power to ,aake them ecisc. They wrote
from warm, beating hearts, not from ptiiul
drv percardium ef fashion taste e" formed aiei
the purcst models" They became worthy To
lead t-y having too much faith in nature to follow
nny hut her We find in them lessons tor to-day,
"a fresh as when they spoken, showing u
that poetry il true for that the spiritual pre-
sences which haunted their lonely hours with ina
ges of beauty, and precious inward Promplnss to
truth and love still walk the Garth, seeking corr
municn with all who are free enough and pure
enough to behold them.
ain oar dav, The accursed hunger after gold, and
the no less accursed repetion et 1t, which brings
with il s,ugpalion of life, and ends in an oss;i-
cation of the whole heart, have rendered US less
fl, for the reception and proper chorishing OF the
wondrous gifts of song. But that the day OF po'
etry has gone By is no moro than that the day
of the soul has gone 10y, tor they were born, ana
must live and die together. Tho soul mounts higher
and higher, and lis horizon wldens from age 10
moo poesv also grows wiser as she grows older
Poetry can never be oil written. There is more
in rho heart of man than any the wisest poet has
ever seen ,hcre-more IN the soul than any has
ever guessed. Our age may have no great poets
for there pre some who have but just now gone
forth into the silence. SEINE who yet llngcr on lhe
doubtful brink and there are SUGGESTIONS IN PoeSy
az in nature; pines spring up where oaks are CUT
down-lhe lyrical follows the epic Bat OF what
ever kind OF degree, there will ever yet be some
neets Thsy are needed as historians Ut wonder
full facts which, but for them, would be unrecoroed
facts high hbove the grasp OF the d'ligent re-
rorders of outward events; and materials OF DIS
tory will never be wanting them, since there Is
no,hing so beautiful but has in it the promise OF
HIGHER beauty, nothing so true but cntoids the ele-
men,s of a wider and more universal truth
We have scarcely space to notice oiner papers
in this opening number. Poe contributes strong
and .kilfuI, but to our minds overStra'ncd and re-
pu!sivs, analysis of the feelings AMI promPungs OF
an insane homicide. The painting OF the terror
of the victim while he sat upright IN his bed oei'
inc that death was near him IS most powerful aud
fearfuIly vivid. John Neal contributes strong
article upon Aaron Bufr-giving however no new
view of his character. A very fine and able cntl-
cism Of the Paintings exhibited at The Boston
Athe;ncum and scientific notice of the Academy
of Music are also presented Tie tale entitled the
!" Arm,nian's Daughter W. have not had time to
read. There are included several very excellent
and spirited Poergs. one Of them very neatly illus
,ra.es and anamber Of discriminating Literary No
tees From one of them we extract the toiiowlng
which hints at a most important truth connected
with education:
alt has TOO long bcena vulgar error, more deadly
than any which the wise Sir Thomas Browne