New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-07
The Author Of 8 Fsstus ,,-George GnaIIan


Extract Of a letter from England to Ths Tnbunel
Apropos Of Nottingham, l have
seen B alley, the author of L" Festus." His father
is proprietor of the Nottingham Mercury, and the
editorial department rests with him. He is a
heavy, thickset sort of man of stature below
the middle size complexion dark and in years
about eight and thirty. His Physiognomy would
be clownish in expression il his eyes did not re
deem his other features.
He spoke of Festus," and of its fame in
America, of which he seemed very proud Ia
England it has only reached the third edition,
while eight or nine have been published in the
States. You know my opinion Of the work. IL
is as far from being great poem as the Thames,
compared with the Mississippi or the Ohio, is from
being a great river. Anxiously, anxiously have
sought one striking original idea ia the whole
poem, appalling in its length but to no purpose.
The transcendental literature of Germany ab-
serbs all that, at first glance, arrests the atten.
ton. Without learning, imagination, or the at
traction of beautiful metre, like that OF Ten
nysOns Princess am at loss to know what
has given this poem its notoriety. Not its daring
speculation, surely; for it is but timid compro-
mise between Orthodoxy and Universalism.
/ know you will set me down as an hereto,
and think the stake too good for me. With all
my heart | accuse your taste, and dispute y0ur
discrimination "Festus" MIGHT HAVE BEEN the
great poem of modern Europe, in the very teeth
Of Goethes "F aust" One finds. even as it isa sort
of chaotic grandeur in it. i will admit that it is q
rude heap of Titanic materials, that in fit hands
might have been durably reared, till it struck the
stars with its lofty head.
What think you Of the !" Angel World " Is it
not "barping on the same string :" Why
will Bailey talk only with that dubious race OF
"hgher intelligences" whom, for the life OF me. l
cannot divest Of gigantic birdwings, as we see
them liz silly pictures can listen to Sweden
borg without impstence-and TO men like EN-.
erson, who haze conversed with angels, VITA rap
ture but Bailey has talked with the copper plate
cherubims in the frontispiece Of an old Family
Bible, and with them ], for one, dare to say have
no connection. Into any sort Of partnership with
them, !, for one, positively refuse to 60
We shall agree better about Gil.
fllan. l met him in London, and, as a man, pre-
fer him to Bailey. But he is Bailey's inferior in
intellect He has grown famous as a literary
portrsit-painter. Very bad portraits they are.
in my opinion His style is one degree removed
from the vicious style Of Herveys Meditations
among theirombs, which Soulhey justly says is
the worst ia existence. Is the Bards OF the
Bible" reprinted yet in New.Yo-k | suppose
the Harpers viii bring it out II you have not
seea It, let ne tel you il is big bathos from be.
ginning TO end The orthodox people must be
ashamed Of il. Why, the man prates OF the B ible
as an imaginative Guctioneer would exalt the mer-
its Of q theatrical wardrobe. Emphatically it may
be said Of Gillian. that he thinks tasel, writes
tinsel, is bedizened with tinsel And be would
orticise Emerson and Carlyle, iorsOoth.-he, who
beholding them afar of, # his eyes were not
horny, would be struck unwinkingly blind 1t is
amusing 70 see, how like moth around lamp,
be hsvers around German theology. From the
top of his Pisgsh, he surveys all modern literature
and philosophy. How many inches TO the sum
NIT OF that Pisgah