The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-08-06


We shall have some remarks 10 make on this docu-
meat, and the state of affairs generally in Phila-
dolphia.
The Poetry OF Politics.
We give on the first page of this days paper,
very choice collection Of political poems. We are
quite confident that they cannot be matched in the
posticai literature OF any other country OF the pre-
sent day. In wit-humor-viyid and striking
imasery-energetic expression-boid metaphor
touching pathos-and delicate sentiment, they are
probably unsurpassed by the national l}rics OF any
other land, which lies stretched out beneath the
sun, the moon, and the seven stars
We were very much amused some time ago by
q large collection of rhymes. published in thick
volume Of some five or six hundred pages, under
the title OF "The Poets and Poetry Of America"
This collection intended TO give complete
aad accurate idea Of the poetry of this mighty con-
tinent But there could not be a greater delusion
than to imagine that that was the poetry of Amer-
ca. That consisted merely OF the commonplace
efisions OF rhymers, who copied the great poets on
the other side of the water. These roetas,ers
al tame and spiritcss compared With the authors of
the admirable lyrics which we have collected and
published on this blessed morning, in the month OF
A gust, one thousand eight hundred and forty
dusirous Mr.. Grswold, when c ,ntrds,ed with
those oil the Kentucky MiastI-ls and the Wester
Tebubadours, the flights. of the barn door fowl
those Of the free eagle that makes its nest in the
pnscaleable cliffs, and whose Il ght In the air was
QUE OF the things that King Solomon, with all his
wisdom, could never fin. out
Mr.. Bryant has written some passable lines, and
Me-. Hilieck his given the wo rid some lyric poems,
wilch 1t is said the world will not willingly let die.
Professor Longfrlow's " Psalms Of Lne,' stir up
the soul somewhat, and there are half-a dozen
other American poets-not including P ark Benja-
min and the author Of " Woodman spare that
Tre~,"-who have really sung a pretty melodious
strain But as the Q4drttriy Herie,o, with that re-
malknble and characteristic adherence TO truth
and justice, which has always marked all that II
has ever said about America, or any thing Amerl-
can, has properly remarked, If any good verses
nave been written In this country, they were ini-
taions OF what had been written by the British
poets. We have now, however, struck upon
vein Of pure, original, and really inspired poesy,
with which We defy even The maignily Of the
Qspterly Repiew TO find fault This is indeed the
uuine article. Let Us just glance at one of the
specimens. One Of the most original and highly
flushed Of these sprit-sirrng lyrics is entitled
" The Coon's Lost his Tail, or the Animal freed /"
Who avoid being delighted with the quaint
ness, the exquisite d.licacy of wit, the infinite
presslveness even Of this title. Our expectations
are naturally highly excited, and we not dis
appointed-,he poem opens with highly graphic
description =
A sly coon came from old Kentuck,
To sam ny . farm to hunt Tor duck,
On ,reeiom's tree his seat he took,
Aid 1ourished high his tail,
And n,urished high his tail,
AMI hlurshed high his tail,
And purished high his tai
And preached oh STATE afi ,irs.
We think it would be difficult 10 fad in the
productions of any other poet-wth the exception,
perhaps, vi Lord Byron-so much dramatic acl Ion
III verse is thus happily presented IN the tour
first lines OF this remarkable slanza. Campbes
lines beginning
"rherc came to the beach poor exile OF Erin
approach somewhat in graphic aud touching fleet
TO The verse before us, but they want its fire aad
energy. The poet, after describing the "preach
ing" Of his hero, thus continues the narrative:-
For .h,ie he gazed at the tree top,
Then of from the iIn,b les dTopt,
Saying an retire till can pop
Upon the topmost branch,
Upon the lopmost branch,
Upon the tepmost branch,
Upon the topmost branch
And there I'l spread my tail"
How admirably has the poet succeeded in en-
letting our sympathies for his hero. His proud,
ambitious aspirations sfter greatness-his clear ''de
finlton of his posi- his stern, heroic resolves,
are ali conveyed in a sing. slanza. One Of your
old, worn out poets would have arored through
dozen stanzas and utterly failed in bringing the SUBJ
Jsctso wildly before US.
The hero, true TO his determination, attempts the
giddy heights to which ambition leads him, but he
meets with violent opposition, and the pathetic in
terest Of the poem becomes overwhelming
But that big eagle +. quick few down,
And bit his tail by The back bone,
And down he sent that sane old coon"
Without an inch Of tail
Without an inch of tail,
Wi bout inch Of tail,
Without an inch otail,
To twist around limb
We cannot ado word Of comment on this su-
blimely pathetic catastrophe.
Seriously, this collection Of short, spirited, and
original national lyrics, Is in our opinion one of the
most interesting literary curio titles Of the day
Like Sir Walter SCOTS J" Border strelsey," II
exhibits the first, and, we grant, somewhat rude
aud unpublished outburst of nations poetry. But
there vigor, an elasticity, and originality, an en-
thusiam about this young poetic growth, which
promises what does it not promise for the future
FUNaY.--lt isvery amusing 10 observe the man
ner in which some of the wing prints in this city
ABUSE the iocoioco papers IoI tneH elhh3tb on
Henry Cay when We all know that in the work of
detraction, lying and scurriliy. both wing and
locofoco editors have been equally cupabe. In.
deed, we think the whig parry prints have been
most culpable, for whilst the Iocofocos have con.
tented themselves with blackguarding the living,
the wings have not scruped to invade the sanctity
Of the tomb for the purpose Of abusing and Willy
ing the dead. Mr.. Folks deceased relatives Of
IL. II. -. -.
ed without measure by the wing journals. The
splrl Of his poor old grandfather must, indeed, be
sadly troubled by the incessant and malignant at
fuck ii.,n.ih Lam. n..Ln eli