The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-16

Ia noticing the first two parts of this pubiica-
ton, we took occasion to express very moderate
opinion of their merit and interest While we
could not do otherwise than regard IL a. most
pleasing and beautiful evidence of hlial tender
ness, that the subject of these memoirs constantly
wrote two letters a week to his mother, during her
life, of opinion that bali dozen charac-
teristic specimens would have been more satisiac-
tory to the generality of readers than the whole
voluminous correspondence.
We find the two ins,alments with which we are
now favored much more entertaining. They EN-
brace the diary Of Moore during the busiest period
OF bis literary and the gayest period of his social
life. The books which De consulted in the prepa
ration of MS works, read in the evening to his
Bessy, and such female friends as occasionally
stayed with her; the growth of his poems and BIZ
ographlcal works under his hands; the details of
bis arrangements with his publishers; the inter.
change OF civihties and good offices between him
and his friends; his frequent dinners the tables
OF toe great, sometimes with his Bessy, but COM
monty without her; the good wine Of bis noble
entertainers; the good songs OF their pet guest, and
the puns, the anecdotes, and the wit that lent
Vlvaclty to these festive circles altogether make
pleasing entertainment for those Who Geek relaxa.
ton in easy reading.
Nor is this work without its lesson of instruc-
hon-a belt a melancholy and disheartening one
for him who resorts to literature with other aims
than amusement. 1t furnishes, what perhaps we
did not need, confirmation of the general con-
Clusion to be drawn from all literary history, of
the inadequacy Of literature-by which We mean
writing and publishing books-as a profession on
which man of talents may rely for livelihood,
with reasonable hopes OF success. Splendid ex-
ceptions there doubt are, but like the lucky
prizes in lottery, they too often operate de-
cetful lure, to tempthund eds into pursuit W hic
proves an incessant struggle between self respect
and the narrow means which deny man the posi-
ton in society to which his talents and learning
entitle him.
Though early conscious of his talents, the only
manner in which Moore looked 70 them for ad-
vanCement in the world was recommends atoms
ore o
whose influence he expected lucrative employ
ment under the government. After some years
anxious expectation, be was disappointed by Lord
NORA, on whose patronage he had rested all MS
hopes of wealth and promotion, and the only Of
flee he ever held was an unimportant one in Der
muda, which proved the source of the greatest Pc
cuniary embarrassment be suffered. Com
PEELED, after this disappointment, TO depend on ms
literary labors for the support of his family, he
rented cheap cottage In the country, and all
that bis talents-which were both superior, and of
that pleasing and popular kind which is most con-
ducive to auccess-industriousy exerted, and aid
ed by social advantages such those of his craft
who depend on their pens for their daily bread
have never in any other case enjoyed, he was able
to leave no better provision for MS family than the
materials for these memoirs, whose sale was to be
improved by the editorship of right honorable
and noble friend. Add to the consideration of this
inadequate provision for his family that life of
industry did not secure, what every prudent man
looks forward to, the means of support in old age
small pension from government, procured for
him by his friends, being his only resource in that
melancholy periOd-and the young aspirant after
the rewards Of literary exertion Is presented with
sufficiently discouraging picture, unless he can
say, like the venerable minstrel in Wilhelm
Meister-
Z" sing but the lnnet sings,
That on the green bough dwellehj
a rich REGARD ms rssic brings
As from his THROAT it swelleth."
Wordsworth was poor; Coeridge was poor; South
ey, the poet laureate, was compelled TO decline
49,, h.
lyle that would be expected of Sir Robert; and
Scott, the man of all Moore's contemporaries
whose ritings were the most popular and brought
their author the most money, gave it as his opln-
ion that literary man should have some other
profession, saying that literature good staff
but poor substitute for legs of other distin
guished authors Of the period, Jeffrey, Brougham,
and Alison industrious and successful law
yers, the two former attaining the highest honors
of the professions; Sidney Smith and Chalmers
were clergymeD; LamL was devoted to CONNER
cial pursuits, and Wilson a professor in a uniyer
sity.
Contemporary literary biography in our own
country will teach the same lesson. Putnam pub
hshed last year a handsomely illustrated work,
entitled Homes OF American Authors, in the pre-
face of which it regarded matter of great
feioialon that cur authors are able to be masters
OF the fsspectabe and comfortable ma nsions which
form the elegant embellishments of the volume.
They seem to furnish sort of ocular demonstra-
ton that literature ls profitable profession. But
let US examine. Bryant, the first Of our poets,
since paying tuition fees in the school Of expert
ence, by publishing poems and editing literary
magazines, has acquired handsome competency
by editing political newspaper. Lopgfeov,
whose name deserves to stand next in the list of
our poets, is professor in Harvard University.
Claiming, the most eloquent OF our prose writers
was clergyman; Wayland Is a clergyman and
the president of college. Everett, Bancroft, and
Sparks, all commenced life clergyInen, and
have all been helped on by public Office, either
under Government, or in connexion with our old
est and most honOred university. Prescott inner
tied competence. Hdreth got handsome start
in the world as a political editor. Irving and
Cooper are the only two OF our authors, of whom
the country has much reason to be proud, VINO
have maintained a respectable position in the
world by the sale of their works, without other re-
The former Of these, we believe, is in very
easy circumstances; but though Cooper always
supported the style of a gentleman, the fact that
he Is hardly cold in his grave before his stately
"Hall'' has passed into the hands of a vulgar
Spectator, and at this very hour is resounding
with the din of mechanics fitting il up for tay-
ern, not only gives a melancholy illustration of
the pecuniary gains of literary labor, but CRATES
harshly feelings desecration Of the
honored abode of genius.
The moral of all this cannot be better given than
in the words of Coleridge 'sWith no other priv.
lege than that of sympathy and sincere good
wishes, | would address an affectionae exhoration
to the youthful hteTGtt, grounded on my ekpe-
rience. IL will be but short; for the beginning,
middle, and end converge to one charge: NEvER
PURSUE LITERATURE As A TRADE. With the
cepton of one extraordinary man, have never
known an individual least of all an individual of
genius, healthy or happy without profession; that
Is, some regular employment which does not de-
pend on the viii of the moment, and which can be
carried on so far mechanically that average
quantum only of health, spirits, and intellectual
exertion requisite to its faithful discharge.
Three hours Of leisure, unannoyed by any alien
anxiety, and looked forward to with delight as a
change and recreation, will suffice to realize in
literature larger product of what is truly genial
than weeks of compulsion."
MARRIED,