New-York daily tribune., 1845-01-21

chiefly call the chosen few.
Who cast moi of the acknowledged guide,
Who fatered not, nor turned asce;
Whose lofty genius could survive
Prvation, under sorrow thrive.
no nro6xing to his work these lines from
goIdsworth Mr. Lowell indicates his standard
,.,o the hopes and destiny of the Poet. It is a
b;gs one; and in its application, he shows great
;ns,pess of feeling, delicacy Of perception, com
nuhsn,iya views; and, for this country, an ua-
n,nsl refinement and extent of culture.
We have been accustomed to hear Mr., Lowell
60 s1lravagantIy lauded by the circle of his
ssads, that we should be hopeless Of escaping
tbe wrath of his admirers, for any terms in which
cur c1pressions of sympathy could be couched,
but for the more modest and dignifcd tone Of kis
own preface, which presents ground on which the
world, at large, can meet him. With his ad-
miners, we have often been reminded of fervent
Italian who raved at one of our young country
women as ga heartless girl" because she would
not 90 to walk with him alone at midnight. But
MraLowell, himself, speaks of his work as be-
b,mesone conversant with those of great and &C.
.omplished minds.
aI cm not bold enough to esteem these essays of
sny great price. Standing os yet only in the outer
porch of liie cannot be expected 10 report of those
higher mysteries which lie unrevealed in the body
Of Inc temple. Yet, as child, when he has found
sbutn mean pebble, which differs from ordinary Only
sonuch as by et'ipe Of quartz staia of iron,
calls his companions 10 behold his treasure, which
olhsm also affords matter Of drligh, and wonder !;
,oIcalnot but hope that my little findings may be
pleasant and haply instructive to some few"
We are thus presented with the agreeable op.
potunity of responding "pleasant and instruc,
i've 10 many" for we feel that this book will be
pleasure and advantage to the many who do
not receive it at the hands of a cuterie.
The form Of dialogue effords the author great
advantage. 1t is easy and animated, and though
contrast of character, and sustained mental pic
tgres Of the speakers, TO the extent that we find
IN Landor's Pentameron, for instance, would add
pour enjoyment, yet we are content in its use,
merely as free and various mode of expressing
The writer's own views.
itis even more rare TO meet great Critic than
great Poet. True criticism, es distinguished
hum pstty cavil and dp1esumptaous measurement,
Gu the one hand, and encomiums, based merely
Onpersonal sympathy, on the other, supposes I
range and equipoise cflacu!ties, and a generosity
ofsou which have as yet been rarely combined
msnyone person. The great Critic is Eot merely
Tho surveyor, but the interpreter OF what other
minds possess he must have standard of excel
lena, founded on prescience of what man is
capable Of; he must have, no less, refined
Imagination and quick sympathies to enter into
each work in its own kind, and examine it by its
own law, 80 that he may understand how certain
faults are interviewer, in growth, with certain
virtues; be mus. have cultivated tas!e a calm,
large, and deep judgment, and a heart 10 love
every thing that is good, in proportion to IFS
goodness.
In some Of these traits the English mind has
thus far shown itself so deficient, that there is
very little valuable criticism e1tant IN that Ian
guage, in proportion to the number of attempts.
The English, as nation, have attempted to crit
cisa by tradition, outward rule or habtual taste,
aadhlve, by an inadequate notion of the purposes
andmeans Of criticism, failed of its best uses
Most essays in this kind by English writers are
records of the habits and preudices of the age or
thswri,er; their value is merely historical. Amid
honorable exceptions, Coleridge stands foremost,
but, very generally, verdict passed in the Eng
hsh speech, has failed of confirmation by the sense
the civilized world. And some c-itiqaes whose
mtereetsN endures, Cor the interest ofthe thoughts
hey embody, no longer have any value as apph-
cable to the subject, for tue years, as they pass
navc brought measure better proportioned to
'aszs than contemporary mind could furnish.
hr, Lowell belongs to the generous school,
who deal more in affimations Than in mega
aons, who have not the poor desire to sum up
'ae merits of the subject, but are rather anxious
70 express the value received to themselves. His
Sayef looking at greatness is ,everent without
atavagance, or the faint Of mere temporary
enohon his doubts and exceptions arc we'll con-
adered; and his homegeis honorable to its ob
ees' and 10 himself. But let us hear in his own
Tords how ne would look at tho Poet.
Mature should lead the true poet by the hand,
sla ne has lar better things to do tban TO busy him
eu Il counting the warts upon il, Us Pope did. a
ri - "ASi hou AilppoCrcne, tastlDE, DIS IL luet,
U;nnocent pastoral sights and sounds, of the beat
@Amos, of The shadows of leaves ard flowers that
hase leaned over il, of the rosy hands of children
saose privilege il ever it is to paddle in it, Of the
ios words of lovers who have walked by its side in
@e moonlight Of the tears Of the poor Hagars ofths
world who have drank from il. would choke sati-
ni. His thoughts OF the country must have SAVIOR
q Jack ketch, aad no beauty but in a hemp
sed. Poetry is something TO make us wiser aad
Better, by continually revealing those types OF beau
y and truth which God has set in all mems souls !;
aoi BY picking out the petty faults o. cur neishbcrs
.Asmodeus's gii,, of unroofug the dwellings, ofhis
asghboIs stwill would be heraresi outfit for satr
st but il would be Of no worth 10 Poet. To the
soriss the more outward motives Of life are enough
unity, pride, ayatce- these, and the other external
.s .sses, are the strings Of his urmuscal Tyre. But
me rect need only uproof his own heart. All that
wanes happiness or misery under every roof OF the
,seworld, whether of palace or hove!, is working
I;,s 10 that narrow yet boundess sphere. On that
'ss stage the great drama of life is acted daily.
a.. fe ine Creation, the Tempting, the Fall may be
Sa anew. in that Withdrawing g-closet, Solitude
Tspeis her secrets, enc. Death uncoysrs bis face.
MITE sorrow takes up her abode. 10 make ready a
n