New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-10
Death Of the Poet Wordsworth.


been for some time regarded as near at
hand, will not fail to excite deep and ten
der regret among a large circle of his adj
mirers in this country. 1t was the fate OF
the deceased poet to win an enthusiastic
and reyerent homage, such as has been paid
to few sons Of the Muses. in these latter
days, or to produce a bitter aversion, in
which the elements of scorn and contempt
were largely mingled. In this he only
shared the lot of most men of genuine orr
ginality-men who are so loyal to the In
stincts of their own genius as TO consider
the passing opinions of the world as idle
breath-men who in flial communion with
/ Nature are blessed with the revelation of
her peculiar mysteries, and who thus anti
cipate the coming age, with no other
audience for their sublimest inspirations
than that which they have quickened
into life by the potent efficacy of their
own magnetic natures. Upon his first
introduction into the poetic world, MIR.
Wordsworth was received with stupid
gaze of irrecognition or smile of super
cilious derisiOn. The brilliant but super
fetal wits of the Edin6ovgh Reriew leveled
against him the whole artillery Of theV sat
ire. Brougham declared of the Excursion,
This will never do words that have be-
come memorable as an instance of pre-
diction most signally falsifed. 1t was many
years before the poet Of Rydal Mount was
welcomed as the herald of bri ghter dawn.
He at length found " fit audience" Byron,
Scott, Wilson, Shelley, acknowledged the
majesty of his genius and drew fresh inspi-
ration from the deep fountains Of his soul.
We need not name the American poets whose
works are now among the noblest intellect
ual treasures of which this country can boast,
who were first led to the purest sources
of poetic thought and emotion, by the con-
genial influence of their English master.
TO many of the loftiest minds, indeed wher-
ever the English language spoken, the name
| Of Wordsworth is associated with feeling
Of almost religious sanctity-so deep and
holy chord has he struck in the most vital
elements of their being arousing them
from the slumbcrs of spiritual death, win
ming the heart to noble raptures, and
spreading new glory and JOY ever the ra-
\ T. e. Al 4
Wordsworth was eminently the poet of
the moral nature. To him, the most beau
tiful object in the world was beautiful hui
man soul. His favorite belief was the d.
vine adaptation of the Universe to the
growth and development of Humanity.
Hence he watched the changing phases of
Nature, not only with the passion ola lover,
but with the enthusiasm of devotee.
Every thing to him was instinct with spi-
ritual life. Nature was glorifed by its'con-
nection with Man; and Man was brought
into sublime ideal sphere by his relations
with Nature.
In connection with this characteristic Of
Wordsworth's genius, we may quote a strik-
ing passage from London journal, which
expresses noticeable fact in very felicitous
language. There must be something
essentially English in his inspirations, for
while few poets have exercised greater in
fuence in his own country, on the continent
his works are little known even to students
who have devoted much time and attention
to English literature. In Germany, for
example, you will find TRANSACTIONS at the
chief seats Of literary society of the poetry
of Scott, Byron. Moore, and Shelley South
ey and Coleridge are less known; the name
of Wordsworth scarcely pronounced at all.
Of France the same thing may with truth
be said. In either country there may be
rare instances Of students of the highest
order, of Guizos, Merimee, Humboldt
a Bunsen, who are well acquainted with the
writings of Wordsworth, and share our
insular admiration for his beauties, but such
exceptions are few indeed. There must,
therefore, be some development CT English
thought in Wordsworth which is the secret
Of his success amongst ourselves, as Of his
failure in securing an European reputation.
1t is certain that some Of the great poets
whose names we have mentioned have left
it upon record that they are indebted for the
idea of some Of their most beautiful pas
sages to the teaching and example Of Words
worth, and yet the scholars have charmed
an audience which the master could not OBJ
tain. 1t is probably the case that in no
country in Europe is the love for country