New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-03-30
THE TRIBUNE
Rev lie w 5
Iositses Of American Literature.

g
rbich is added Curiosities of American Lera.
,nre, bv Rufus w. Griswold. OF D'Iraeli's work
# is unnecessary to speak. There is no book in
d the English language embodying SO much rare In
Il formation, and real amusement as this. No man
thinks Of making up Library without it, and it
is among the first purchased fora choice selection
But valuable as il is we pity those who will feel
unable to purchase the present edition, because
thew have the former work. We wonder it never
entered some publishers head before to engraft on
1.-THE Curiosities of American Literature-for al
though the field embraced in ii islimited it yields
arch harvest. Our country was settled by brave
men and fearless thinkers and the period from
their time down to the Revolution was one of
high excitement producing great mental activity
that of the most unlettered kind. The results
Of this activity exhibited sometimes in drol cpl
grams and quaint verses at others in sharp, BIZ
ting sarcasm uttered in good old vigorous Saxon;
a bold defiance Of the King and his minions, are
! Of unfading interest to the American. The oddi-
ties Of Genius are always laughable, but there is
downright honesty and earnest simplicity in
the eccentricities Of our forefathers that render
them doubly amusing. England may smile with
as much selfcomplacency as she pleases at the
deqrth Of our literature, she cannot refuse to
der us due praise for furnishing our share Of its
cmioSaeS 1t is hopeless to attempt to give
complete idea of the varied matter Mr.. Griswold
has collected together. He has ransacked New
England most thoroughly. The claims of Thorn
as Jefferson to the authorship Of the Declaration
of Independence are here fully discussed, and we
must say that they not so clear and strong as
we-if we were his descendans-should wish they
were There is also fine collection of the old
ballads and songs composed about the time Of the
Revolution. The Battle of the Kegs The Cow
Chase, Brave Pawling and the Spy Lovewell's
Fight Ballad of the Tea Party, &c. &C., here
shine in all their original glory and oddly. We
give short extract from pasqulnade written by
Philip Freneau on James Rvington, editor Of a
Tory Gazette in the time Of the Revolution
Il is entitled Rivingtons Last VIII and Tesla
ment:'
Since life is uncertain, and no one can say
How soon we may go. or how long we may stay,
Methinks he is wisest who soonest prepares,
And settles, in season, his worldly affairs:
Some olks are so weak they can scarce avoid crying,
And think when they re making their wills they are
diving;
II is surely serious employmen,-buts still
Who e'er died the sooner for making his will
Let others be sad, when their lives they review,
Butt know achon, We served-and him faithfully
too;
And though it may seem fantastical story,
He often has showed me a glimpse OF his glory.
IMpR1MIs, nv carcase give and devise
To be made into cakes Of u moderate size,
70 nourish those Forces whose spirits may dr0op,
And serve the kings army with portable soup.
Unless mistake in the scriptures we read
That worms on the dead shall deciously feed, ).
The scripture stands true-and that | am firm in,
For what are our Tories and soldiers but yermin
This soup of all soups can't be called that of beef,
land this may to some be a matter OF grief
But am certain the BULL would occasion laugh
That beet: portable soup should be made OF CALF.
To the king, my dear master, give full set
lin volumes bound up) of the Royal GAZETTE,
In which he will find the vast records contained
Ofproyinces conquered, and victories gained.
As 10 ARNOLD, the traitor, and Satan his brother,
BEG thew will also accept of another;
And this shall be bound in Morocco red leather
Provided they III read it like brothers together.
But il Arnold should die, I is another affair,
Then Satan, surviving, shall be the sole her,
He often has told me he thought ltqulte clever,
So 10 him and his heirs bequeath II forever.
know there are some that would tain he thought
wiSe)
Who say nv Gazette is record Of lies;
In answer to this, | shall only reply
All the choice that had was, to sta,e or to lie
There are poems, also, of more serious caste,
illustrating the character of the higher poetry and
literature of the age. We would like to quote also
some historical facts Of great interes, relating to
the distinguished men of Revolutionary times,
but we have not room We mus. confne our
selves in the remaining extracts to Nathaniel
Ward and his 'SIMrLE CoBLER OF AGGAvvAM.'
For originality of expression, and queer yet rlost
successful use of our plain strong Saxon. we do
not know its superior in our language. He was
a Puritan Clergyman-intoleran it is true, as all
men were in those ntoerant times-n religious
matters vet going for thorough reform IL all
moral and political matter. The following is the
title:
ssThe Simple Cobler of Aggavvam in America
Willing TO help mend his Native Country, lament
ably tat,ered both IN The upper-Leaiher and sole
with all the honest stitches he can take. And is
wius never 10 bee paid for his work, BY Old Eng
Ish won,ed pay. 1t is his Trade 10 patch al the
wear long gratis. Therefore pray Gentlemen keep
your nurses By Theodore de la Guard. In rebuS
ardu,s &C teaui spe, tortiSstmd qu@que coHS't3 t-
ttssima suat.-Ctc. In English,
When bootes and shoes are torne up TO the let's
Coolers must thrust their awes up 10 the helts.
s.This is no time to ieare dppelies gramm
Ne Sator quidem ultra creptdam
THO f,llctr;pr an false theories in morals IS for