New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-14
Frances Sargent Ossood.


The death Of this gifted writer which We briefly
announced in yesterdays Tribune, will be heard
with sincere regret Probably no female poet in
in this country has been read and cherished by her
own sex with regard so familiar and stec.ionate.
She owed her popularity TO no studied effort to win
the public ear-to no new and skilltu tricks OF
authorcraft-but to the entirely natural and impul-
sive play OF her fancy and feeling, which made her
verse seem, it really was, the true utterance OF
Joyous sensitive and sympathetic nature. Gifted
with a fine ear for the mere melody OF language,
and with heart susceptible 10 the most delicate
shades of emotion, she rarely wro,e even on chance
and careless themes without touching the key note
of some other heart. This it is which has created
for her a circle Of admirers who gave her, while
living, a sincere and grateful appreciation such as
an author is seldom blessed with.
Mrs Osgood was, in the genuine sense of the
word an improrisatrice. Poetry was to her as
natural and irrepressibe as song to the lark. She
seemed to aim only at giving voice to passing fan
cies or some feeling that craved confidante or
that serene and exactiug Art which is the higher
life of Poetry, she had little knowledge Hence
her productions which, if collected, would make
larger volume than that of any English poetess We
can now remember) are for the most part brief and
unstudied. She had neither the passion nor the
IMAGINATION which consistent, sustained effort
| would have required. The highest Characteristic
| other poetry is a rare, spnghtly and exhaustless
Fancy. sometimes exalted for moment, By sud
den glow Of thought to the borders Of Imagination,
bat the next instant, in some frocsome smile, be-
traying that it is but Fancy still. Judged by this
standard, we must award to many OF her poems a
high degree of excellence. They can no more be
subjected TO the ordinary process of criticism than
n thrush's carol can be measured by the laws of
| the music school She sang in happy ignorance of
the study. the toll the wrestling Of Thought with
Expression, through which alone the greater poets
have attained their shining seats The songs OF the
hour usually die with the hour; yet among the many
poems which Mrs. Osgood has written, there are
some whose exquisite melody reveals through its
smooth-fowing tide the sparkle ofprecious sands
at the bottom Such, we may believe viii become
permanent contributions to the national literature
Of the present age.
OF all American female writers, Mrs Osgood IS
the most truly feminine in her deineation OF the
affections. Without rising ever TO the dignity o
passion, she portrays the more tender and deli
cate lights and shadows Of woman's heart, with an
instructive fidelity. We might instance some
charming improvisations in peculiar vein OF sub
dued and halicspricious gayety, which can hardly
be surpassed. In all her social relations, the rea
diness with which her buoyant and vivacious ma
tire ran into verse, was made a source Of endless
amusement and pleasure. Many OF her mos
spriehily and graceful poems were produced ii
this manner, with no other object than the tempo
rsry ratification Of her friends, and then thrown
aside and forgotten. We are told that she has, a
various times, published quite as many poems