The New York herald., 1850-02-17

MORE BosroN NorIoNs-MR. WHRrLE 8 ANALy-
Sis OF WEBSTER, CALHOUN AND CLAY.-Boston, the
literary Athens, In which it would be difficult to
find an Atheniau, sometimes furnishes remarkable
notions. Ii has, however, little disposition to
nurse and foster Its own intellectual children,
though ever ready TO entertain for a season or two
any literary lion of accredited talent. 1t creates
great number Of clever men, who inevitably perish
if they remain on the soil OF their origin. They
must be transplanted, il they would flourish The
mere acquisition Of wealth, under the constant
garb Of ruritanism, being the general characters
tic of Bostonians, art, literature aud theology,
have TO seek another abiding place. An artist can
scarcely live IN the atmosphere Of Shawmut-and
this well accounts for the fact that Chester Hard
ing and Fisher have Just settled among US, adding
two more painters from Boston to the long list
already well known.
In literature, Boston keeps only a few TO save
her name, and these are principally confined to
Harvard University, as that college il usually
dignifed, and which comprises such little lumlna-
ries FELTON,, Bowen, LoBgfelow, and host Of
literary sermon. makers, who, now and then. awake
the dormant faculties Of the wealthy citizens who
gamble in stocks on State street. Mr.. Whipple, a
selEiaught, indefargable, studlous young man. who
superintends the Merchants Exchange Reading
Room IN that city, sometimes associates with the
Harvard clique, whose organ the North A,neri-
can Rsrisir, and has already become tinged with
the peculiar color Of the tribe-lbough he is ar
ahead Of every member Of IT IN natural intellect
and in application. He has only to protect himself
and 10 rely upon the vast resources Of his own
energies to outstup all the professors ia the race
for fame lie will fall 20 the flat level Of the asso-
ciation, u he fail TO retrea, in season. His PUB
lshed essays and his lectures are among the rsost
readable OF Boston books; but they are scarcelyse
independent or original in tone, as they woxld
have been had he not been under the suyre,llasse
OF that CLIQUE.
In Mr. WiSpple's lecture, IN tsis city, on Tues
day night, we had "a taste of his quality" In many
resgxc his sutjsct-"The American Mmd"-was
wei treated; bst in attempting to depict the cha
racters OF W,bseer, Caihoun and Clay. he nufortu.
nately MADE great mistake. lnsiea6 Of gyving an
analysis ol these gueat men. he proposed to do.
sypthesis was used, and all che deductions were
precisely those geruinaied by Boston ,rrjudlces
and dogmas--so that the most made on of the
attempt was mere fggrailve harmony OF words.
iall'ue To give any sound. satisfactory and osmp;e-
hensive idea Of these leading statesmen. I, rasa
pretty display of rh,toue--but a sad libel Spon
truth. The difference between Mr.. Webster ,nd
Mr.. Clay was not exposed il should have been
The estimates of Mr. Websiers manner of atacs
were enormously imagined-whlle IN assigning to
Mr. Clay the rosit,on of an impr,ssible politician,
he lost sight Of many Of the most marked ch,rsc-
tsiisiics Of thet senator's mind Mr. whpple
should be careful about entering the political arena
he should esohew politics. the rock upon winch
his prototype. Mscaulsy. ioundersd. aad devote
his energies to purely literary subects, Ia which
he has much to learn. though he surpasses all cf
bis Boston contemporaries IN the ease aud extent
~Ith which he can treat literary theme.