New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-03-10

vol. l2inO. Do. lDU second kdO0n new Ork
George Putnam, lsf9
BAYARD TAYLOR 10 genuine man. All that
we know Of him--and we are pretty familiar with
his history-hss impressed US with the belief that
there is nothing sham about him. In Literature
he is egotisicsl, but there IS scarcely author
more easily detected in his works. And this is
not from any Of those tricks Of style in which alone
consists the individuality Of so many; but his sin
cere frank and enthusiastic spirit, grateful while
aspiring, calm while struggling, and humble while
attaining and his life, which moves in order in
the crowd and jar OF society in the solitude where
Nature is seen with reverence, up nights of rough
ascent and over streams and chasms, by shapely
ways constructed by his will and knowledge. We
do not remember any book Of travels in which an
author appears altogether amiabe and interest
ing as ne in his Views a-Foot He always lin
gers in the background, or steps forw ard modesty
but to solicit more earnestly admiration for
what has knded his own bat undesgnedly, or
against his design even, he continually engrosses
our interest if he were the hero Of novel, and
as we pass from scene TO scene with him. we think
Of the truth and poetry Of each only to symPathize
in his surprise, and JOY, aud wonder.
Bayard Taylor's first move in literature was
small volume of poems of which the longest, and
the longest he has yet published was upon an in
cdent in Spanish history He was then about {
years of age aud we remember his appearance
as, after years desultory correspondence upon
art and life, he came to the city, with the Ms. IN
his pocket, and we first saw him. He was no.
bic specimen of our young erect and health
fu with a voice musical and variable as wo-
mans but eyes that had in them more FIRE than
suited the plain coat which bespoke his Quaker
origin. We read the poem together and, while
negotiations were in progress for its publication,
discussed the subject of Americsnsm in letters,
aud urged upon his consideration the themes we
thought best adapted to the development and
illustration of his genius.
Here was young author, born and nurtured in
one Of the most Characteristic and beautiful of our
rural districts so removed from the associations
that vitiate the national feeling and manner, and
altogether Of a growth so indigenous, that he was
one of the iest types of our people. selecting the
materials for his first production from scenes and
actions which are more picturesque, more roman
tic. or in any way more suitable for the purposes
OF art only as they have been made so by art
and are seen through the media OF art, IN prefer
ence 10 the fresh valleys and mountains and Tor
ests aud lakes and rivers and cataracts, and high
resolve aud bold adventure and brave endurance
which have more distinctly marked and varied
aud ennobled our history than all other histories
In events crowdiug so fast upon each other, that
our annals seem but rehearsal Of all that had
been before. with years for centuries-divided
bv the Declaration of independence, which IS our
Gospel-beyond which the Colonies are ancient
nations and this side of which our States have
swept, with steamboats,. and railroads and tele
graphs the whole breadth OF Time, and ere the
startled Empires are aware are standing before
them all beckoning them to the last and best con-
dtiop which is the fulfllment OF farthest reaching
prophecy In such a choice he had not only to en-
ter into competition with the greatest genuses OF
the countries and ages he invaded, but worse than
thu. to be parasite of their inspiration, or 10 ami
mate old forms. disciplined to mere routine, with
the new life to which he was born-sacrihcing al
together his native strength, or attempting Its ex
hibiton in letters and in prison.
Genius creates, but not like the Divine energy
from nothing Genius creates from knowledge
and the fullness of knowledge necessary TO its
uses can be acquired, not from any secondhand
slimpses through books or pictures or discoures
but from experience in the midst of its subjects,
the respiration of their atmosphere, daily contact
with their forms, aud constant sympathy with
their nature. This pervading Intelligence gives
10 transient tone to the feelings but enters into
the essence Of character, and becomes part OF
life. He who would set aside the spirit OF his age
and country to take upon himself another being,
must approach his task with extraordinary powers
and an indomitable will or he will fail utterly 1t
isundouhtedly true that to be American, 1t is not
nssSC,l in all cases TO select subjects which are
a. csogrsphically but this admission does not
i,.,;cy an indiscriminate of foreign life, or
ra.Llss. invasion or assumption of foreign sent
ment. There must be some relationship OF condi-
tion and aspiration. OF all writers who have yet
written Milton was the most American. All the
works Of Claiming contain less that is national 10
us than page of the Defence OF the People OF
England, and a library larger than that which was
a. Alexandria OF such books as Irving S, would not
contain as much Americanism as paragraph OF
the Areopasitics. Bat the Genius OF America was
born in England, and his strength was put iorth IN
those conflicts Of the Commonw ealth which ended
in the exile OF the young Hercules. During the
Cromwelian era, England offers almost as appfo'
pirate field for illustration by the American as
Massachusetts under Hutchinson, except IN the
accessories Of Mature which should enter into the
compositions OF Art Not so Spain or Russia at the
extremes Of Europe, without aihnites with each
other or with us There is very little IN the life or
nature or past or present or future OF either OF
these nations with which the American can have
any real sympathy and for an American author
whose heart keeps time with his countrys' to at
tempt the illustration OF any character rom either
while his own doma in far more rich in suggestion
aud material, lies waste, is a thing scarcely pos
sbie to the apprehension OF a common understand
ing In remote and shsdowy antiquity, Ike that
OF Egypt, or in such darkness as envelopes
Mexico or Peru own continent before It's
last discovery. the case is different are at lib
erty, with conditions, 10 make these the scenes OF
our conventionalites, because there is scarcely
record TO contradict any Of the suggestions Of the
imagination