New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-04-17
Gri.woId,. Prose Writer. of America.

The Boston Courier, speaking Of this work, which
was favorably reviewed in The Tribune few weeks
ago has the following observations which may
answer for this meridian
we have read this volume through with deliberate
and careful attention and with desire 70 arrive a.
candid estimate OF s merits. As the result Of
animation. give to the work considering is great
difficulties our general appreciation and to IL author
decided commentator and thanks Upon the whole
he has bad extraordinary success and be has certainly
displayed q spirit temper and talUts, that would
have made good his title 70 respect and applause even
If the issue had been less satisfactory than II H. The
undertaking could not properly be described a. peri.
cuose penum opus sles for the dangers that wsysid
II were not matter Of chance or mere probability, but
of obvious certainty The enterprise did no, consist IN
proceeding per gnes suppostos ciner doioso, but IN
marching directly through the blazing and cracking
flames To such act Of courage, some little scorch
ing Of the hair soilure Of smoke upon the face or
garments, matter Of course. The performer
OF the daring feat in the present case has had the lair
fame Of his unquestionable triumph little smoked or
smirched By those critics who In their character Of
prose writer's being sufferers more or less from his
honesty. could not quite reasonably be expected TO
perceive that doing justice TO them consisted In doing
justice upon them. However, Notwithstanding some
very abored attacks upon IT, his book has not been in
the least degree damaged. The accuracy OF his state
ments OF fact the general correctness OF his opinions on
literature, the entire integrity OF MS purpose ana tne
beraity and generosity OF his feeling. have not been
rendered at all doubtful The ability and eOquence OF
his paragraphs have been admitted BY those who least
had reason TO be grsthed by their tendency. Mr. Gns
void has approached the delicate task conhded 10 him
with that moral preparation which should be made by
who sits in judgment He has RENTED prejudces
he has Invested himself of passions; he has checked
favor he has suspended the recollection Of injuries
Some of those Of whose productions he has spoken
with severity are happen to know his most special
personal friends In other instances he has praised
warmly and studousy and labored TO make MS readers
praise those from whom he has received such returns
for kiudupes al UOuld have nduced less CHI
various less just 10 them In silence He has not
always been with the manliness and generosity
by those whom his criticisms have pressed.
There have been some departures from ialr and
honorable dealing in this respect which we regret to
have seen. However, Mr.. Griswold, like ourselves
has been too often behind the scenes, and has viewed
too closely the dirty ropes and greasy puleys by
which the great stage deluson of the Independent Press
is prepared and managed 10 be at all affected by ma
levolence in the mask of criticism or TO have any diff
Guilty in detecting The phiHe Of rhiRped eonoeH, or TIE
h0wl Of mortified raRy in the disguise Of affected sheer
There was no way of doing the work which Mr.. Girls
void undertook, quite acceptably in fact there was
but way Of doing il at all and that was by perfect
honesty independence truth and fearessness to run
the risk of irritating everybody in order to attain the
certainty of being just TO any This s the course which
the author appears 10 have adopted Hehss trueked 10
man he has conclated no clique. he has clearly
taken pains avoid offending numbers OF persons,
who from their positions in relation newspapers and
reviews had it their power either to set the bells OF the
press TO ringing peas OF triumph or to lange them into
fghtful screams or worse Than all perhaps Keep tnen
profoundly silent 10 vndicating his independence in
these respects perhaps the author has gone beyond the
limits of practical discretion. But with men OF an
honorable and manly temper he will gain by such con
duct far than he could lose by the annoyance OF
whole chdrUdri of Disconnected prose writer's Such
imprudence s the excess of noble quality While we
do ask for such superhuous virtue In author, we
honor and admire the feeling much as we contemn
the littleness which, wounded by the honesty of the
author. would revenge private dspeasure by sacr
fee OF sincerity and fairness A pho places himself
is placed By Others, IN e station Of Editor Of literary
Journal duty 10 pe public u, dispedsed Dih
opinions that hare been openly expressed about him by one
ho gires his 10 he public such Editor percrts the
anonymous pTUile9e nhch has been accorded 10 him for
protection not for annoyance into e9iHe Of HnodRdid
and dishonest GssdHl- he abuses his Official p0ra 70 The
purpose Of Uiag rent 20 pory personal Ptque-he de
and far he Is trao>d he rsoeres The dsresped
Of ec0y gentleman IN me community. However In the
upper school OF literature, the opinion Is entirely in
favor of Mr.. Griswod. The prose-wrers OF America,
in their individual capacities, satisfied with the
Prose Writers in its literary character We hare taken
pains ka0p he general Impression among literary
men, ohO hare bias 10 think speak unfairly and ce
report that Impression be- that Mr.. Grs0lds uoyk has
been eLecNted honestly ably and rSH and that 1t is valua
BILE contribution to the original literature of the country