New-York daily tribune., 1849-09-06
REVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS.


lisn language. Enough is known Of the personal
history and character Of Goldsmith, 10 tempt Us to
recur 10 the subject with fresh interest but be
has not been 50 banded sbou, By liie-writers and
reviewers as to satiste curiosity. The simplicity
and even the weaknesses Of his nature call forth
feeling Of affection, and the charm Of bis writings
so unaffected, so naive, so transparent in their
crystal purity OF expression, attracts US 10 q more
intimate acquaintance with the author Mr. Irv-
ing was in possession OF abundant materials 10 do
justice to the subject. He had only to insert bis
exquisite magnetic needle into the mass, to give
choice and shapely form to all tha, was valuable
in the labors Of previous biogrsphers He has
done this IN manner which leaves nothing 10 be
desired. With general admiration Of Goldsmith
with cordial appreciation OF the spirt Of bis
writings, and with many similar intellectual ten
deEces he has portray ed ths varied picture of bis
life, with grace and elegance, that make his
narrative as charming piece Of cOmpo,ition
can be found in the whole range Of bis former
works He hGs added q new enchantment 70 the
potent spell with hch be always binds the hearts
OF bis readers. twas an appropriate task for the
great master Of picturesque narrative. on this side
a
foreign writer, whose periods sweetly flowing in
streams Of molten gold, nigh, almost entite him
10 the name Of the British Irving He has per
formed this task, with facile excellence, peculiar
to himself and henceforth the two names Of Irving
and Goldsmith will be united in the recollection Of
the delightful hours which each bas given to such
a host Of Z" happy human beings There could
not be more admirable description Of the nlu-
ence Of his own writings, than Mr. Irving has
gwen in his opening paragraph on Goldsmith.
We will not forego the pleasure Of quoting It en-
tire. "There are few writersior whom the resde-
feels such personal kindness as for Oliver Gold
smith. for few have SO eminently possessed the
magic gift of identifying themselves with their
writings. We read hs character In eve-y page
and grow into familiar intimacy with him as W.
read The artless benevoience that beams
throughout his works the whimsical, yet amiAble
views Of humsn life and human nature the un-
forced humor, blending so happily with good feel
ing and good sense, and singuary dashed at times
with pleasing melancholy even the very nature
of bis mellow, and flowing, and softly tinted style,
all seem TO bespesk his moral az well as his intel
lectus qualities, and make US love the man, at the
productions Of writers Of loitier pretension and
more sounding names are suffered to mouder on
our shelves those Of Goldsmith are cherished and
aid in our bosons We do not quote them with
ostentatiou but they mngle with our minds,
swee,en our tempers, and harmonize our thoughts
they put us in good hnmor with ourselves and
with the world, aud in so doing they make us hap
pier and better men, X
LIBERTYs TRIUMPH; A PoEm. BY ROBERT w Ian
DIS New-York John Wiley.
We trust our friend Mr.. Wiley will not be too
much elatcd with the glory OF aiding this immor-
tai f pic to see the light 1t will be long time
before the fame thereof will cease 10 ring in his
ears He has the rare felicity Of bringing before the
public Poem which as far surpasses Joel Barlow =
Coumbiad, as that scars above the Para
disc Lost" We only wonder that bard of such
unprecedented powers as Mr.. Wieys protese
should have vouchsafed to follow in the track OF
Milton so servileiy as he often does Take Tie
opening lines as an example
1.hs deeds reuown'd Of Heavens all ruling King
When bv Him blessd Sires their freedom gam u
sing heavenly Muse who canst alone inspire
The strains that shall the soul to noblest aims
Arouse and point thereto the happier way
Yea sing how when of liberty bereaVd
And riehts of conscience Hesven-bes d on man
They lett their native shores and here upresrd
Freedoms fair institutions at the price
of treasure toll, and blood sing too ther woes
Epdurd In them defending when sssi
In after times) till thro the aidsnce grand
OF Powers Superns, triumph crownd their ~H
His euphonious use of proper names IS clearly
in the Mtonic vein.
With these were other names since given 10 Fame
pigot and Parker, Carleton, Abercrombie,
Tarleton Knyphsusen Erskine, Reidesdel'
Leslie O'Hara, Arbuthnot and Percy
Philips and Frazer, Breyman, Ross and Grant
Here he comes down to the level Of honest John
Bunyan.
Reader If you've ne 'er heard from me before
Re grateful; for Il ne'er has been because
have not written Poems In abundance
Rut simply that I've done what had been wen
For many other Poets too 10 have DONE
gave my minor offspring TO the hre,
Instead of troubling criucs TO lnpaie them 3D.,
And then 10 write their eptsph. (And they
Determine whether II had not been well
So to have done with this)
Here he is himself
Then on the following day. the ofhcery
Al the Hotel de Frances all convene,
nnsl leave to take of Washington
Ne neer was cursed with heart that cannot ieel
But soon thereafter entering the hall,
His couutensnce his strong emotion tens
Untouched 10 lett the elegant rePssl
And conversation Oft attempted isis
Then as the clock the hour OF one procisms'
He rising at the sidebosrd nils some VINE
Then thus IN words that scarce Can 'teiAnoe ""N
If this is not the poetry which gods ana sooS
men do not willingly let die it will live long IL
the comey volume to which the admirable oene'-
olence of tn publisher has consigned It, r.
history OF TIE NATIONAL CONSTITUENT As
stMBLY. BY 7. y. CoSKSAN NEWTON n"P''
and Brothers
Thi. is book Of good intentions The author
bsS ample means of observing the grand phsn'ss
msgoria of events, as they passed before him. sna
he gives us the best fruits OF his eyeseht snd :
insight. He writes in rapid, ske'chy' sapeiheia'
.,le. often hits of some points IN the personSii
re, which be describes with considerable effect
i, always lively snd good humores' and Is never
absurd except when he attempts to reason on
general principles, or to explain political theories
OF which he is incompetent to Obtain 'heisin'es'
inkrns. A pleasant gossiPy ssrrulous companion
he is such as you like TO while sway an hour or
two with when sitting under tree in the country
or waiting in the Office for the hour Of the train
which takes You out OF town but II you pin your
faith on his sleeve, in regard TO the ideas ard
,,o,;vss which led to the Revelation ci February