The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-27
Elshing and Flouudor--!nK.

We had said, and supposed, that nothing could
be more aimiess and more impotent than the
Unions attempts at argument, or the scurrility
in which it sought refuge from the arguments
and facts arrayed against it, We frankly admit
our error in this respect, for its wu is even
worse than its reasoning. Marlinus Scribierus
had already oxempitied, the :" Art of Sinking
in poetry" in his celebrated essay--but it was
reserved for the new Scriblerus' Of the Union
to illustrate by "a modern instance" the "Art Of
Sinking in prose, and to delectify us with
specimen unmatched in that hitherto matchlcss
essay.
With most appropriate caption from the
source Of its inspiration, the Dunciad, thc APP
plicaton Of which must be evident to all who
read first tho caption and then the text,) the
Union Of Friday displayed an "aacrity at
sinking amazing even to the ghost of Sam
Patch, most precipitate of plungcrs--like him.
never alas to emerge again. Such founder
ing in mud and mixed metaphors-and suc! de-
liberate sef-depreciation rs are displayed in the
briefresponse we subjoin, the "Curiosites of Lit
erature" do not afford. 1t should go into the
next edition.
1t will be recolected that the rejoinder is
aimed at our happening article, in which the
muddy waters alluded to were the lucubra-
tons Of the Union--and the tadpole fisheries
that print. As though to fastcn more surely
the barb of our harpoon, it appends portion of
our editorial, which We deem it unnecessary to
reproduce
After this let the public Judge which truly
can claim" if not the Journals" at least " The
lead"
" Minnows talk like Whales"
" Not so bold Arnall. With weight Of skull
Furious he dives, precipitatey dull 1;
No crab more active in the dirty dance,
Downward to climb, and backward to advance,
He brings up half the bottom on his head,
And loudly claims the journals and the lead. -
Pope's Duncad hero was not more expert than
the Southern Press in the exploration Of muddy
waters, as the following paragraph will show
That paper appears to have devoted much time
to the tadpole fisheries, and has emulated the
celebrated fisherman,
" Whose hook was baited with Dragons tall
Who sat upon a rock and boJbcd(or whale %
This happening process is certainly a won
dertul affair. Whales, Gonnders and dogfish--
all these must bow to the dp-net genius of the
Southern Press. 1t has evidently a terrible af-
fnty for the monsters Of the deep The "mud-
fish" hustled out Of their lair, must have been
disturbed by the editors of the Southern Press,
when they took the fatal plunge, with the inn
mortals Of the Dunciad, and sought to illustrate
the principle that "who deepest dives shall
highest rise" We are entirely satisfied that the
Southern Press should enjoy the belief that it
had secured al the whale, cod, mackercl, and
herring fisheries in the world, and that it en-
joyed tho monopoly of their produce. II is, be-
You'd question, ydshy concern, hardly worth the
cost OF hooks and bait required for its uses.
The editors of the Press must have been sadly
discomposed, or they would not have INDUCED
in such silly " fish stories" us the following. 1t
shows how scaly are their propensities.