Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-09-11

than he of the constructive faculty. His works a
bound in the best qualities which should distinguish
our American romantic literature, and prove that
the will only is necessary for him TO secure place
among the great authors Of our language.
Caavar and the InGde were the first novels Of
DIR Bird, and | trust there are few American read
ers who need TO be informed of their character or
desert; though, as their accomplished author has
been so long in retirement the inference is
able that their reception was equal neither TO their
merits nor his expectations DR. Bird has great
dramatic power, and has shown in several instances
considerable ability in the portraiture Of character.
His historical romances deserving Of that title.
His scenes and events from actual life are present.
ed with graphic force and an unusual fidelity
lie had the merit of understanding his subjects
perfectly il was possible to do so by the most
persevering and intelligent study of all accessible
authorities; and in the works have mentioned has
written in an elevated and effective style. In Rob
in day, Nick of the Woods, the Hawks of Hawk
Hollow, Peter Pilgrim, and Sheppard Lee, he has
exhibited a manner as various his genius, and
shown that there is hardly school Of fiction in
which he cannot excel
There are very few works of their sort in the
literature OF any country comparable to the Zeno-
bia, Probus, and Julian, Of William Ware Mrs
Child's beautiful story of Philothea, in which she
has so happily depicted Ahenian society in the age
ofPericles is the only American romance of kind
in any degree similar. DIR Wares characters are
finely Disseminated aud skillully executed; and
his narratives have Just proportion and complete
ness. He writes like one perfectly at home amid
the ancient grandeur aud civilization Of his scenes
and eras, and in a style Of Augustan elegance and
purity.
A gentleman who has doubtless well-deserved
good reputation for taste, asked me last winter to
dine with him, accepted the invitation and while
waiting at his house the arrival OF other guests,
sauntered with him into a library in which several
thousand volumes, in richest bindings, gave proof
OF the possessors afuence we'll Of his literary
turn of mind. The lamps were lighted we we're
standing before richly carved acoye, and he took
down book in green and gold, with It's delicately
wrought markers, aud many a pencilled passage,
saying, 'Ah you may talk of literature in this
country when it produces a work like this 1t
breathes the genuine classical spirit, and could
have been written only where the cultivation of
letters had reached its acme | am so accustom-
ed to such exhibitions that it did not much surprise
me, when, on taking the book that had excited this
admiration into my hands, discovered that it was
London copy Of one Of these romances Of DIR
Ware, with the title changed from Probus, or the
Fall Of Rome to Piso the Perfect II was very
characteristic of the common knowledge and ap-
probation of American literature among class
of men who affect the possession Of judgment
in such matters, and with whom the imprint OF
Bentley or Colburn has the authority of an impri-
matur of genius.
OF Mr. Puulding, Judge Hail. Mr. Neal, Mr. Fay,
Mr. Thomas, Mr. Fuckerman, Mr. Longfellow, Mr.
Mathews aud Miss Sedgwick, have left myself
no room to write in this connexion. | shall notice
some ofthem, under the head Of tale writer's in my
next letter. and others, subsequently, as authors
Of wit and humor
am, respectfully, your obedient servant.
RUFUS w. GRISWOLD