The Washington union., 1857-11-29
WEEKLY MISCELLANY or LITERATURE AND ART


WEEKLY MISCELLANY OF LITERATURE AND ART
No. IL. ~8f
The following letter, which we transcribe from the
original manuscript addressed by Allan Cunningham
Honest Allan as Scott WAS wont to call him, to
brother poet win possess interest for the literary reader
1t smacks strongly of the man, whose striking qualities
sngulay apparent in the vigorous proportions Of
his frame and in his fine expressive oountenance. Sir
Walter Scott says in his Introductory epse 10 1.-THE
Fortunes Of Nigel :" wh popular impress people would
read and admire the beauties of Allan M it u.s. they
may perhaps only note his defects or what is worse not
note him at all But never mind them, honest Allan;
you credit to Caledonia for all that. There
lyrical eusions of his, too, which you would do
we'll to read Captain. It's Hame, and It's Hane Is
equal to Burns
~ BELaRAvK PLACE, Oct 2l, 1882.
Ny DKAR PRISoLz Last year reviewed your Annual;
this year reviewed the plates only Dixie has taken the
prose and TO himself but you will be kindly used
according to your merits for he has assured in
quiry. All the reviews which have written for the
Athen@um- and they not few--hsve been written
conscientiousy and according TO my feelings and have
yet treated the works OF of genius with cold
disrespect.
OF the great upas tree which overshaows litera
ture your complaint is just The man has no genius
to entitle him to be judge and he has little taste
his reign WILL however, to end for critics
do not live forever. The truth is that only few great
names titled writers get justice done them. may
say for myself that there Is scarcely instance where
person has without education aid OF any kind written
such rous works l have done myself and yet the
Edinburgh critics hang cm-insuted me, and the Quar-
tery slips my dongs in ut the fagend Of other men
praises Only what scamps auded in both these
great reviews
ann not at all surprised at what you say respecting
your booksellers Their Judgment is questionable they
are engaging in the manufacture of works of poetic art
which they neither feel nor understand and the conse
auence is works of the embelshed sortsuch their
Byron Galcry-are produced which have little original
beauty.
thee Il shall write away regardless Of all critics al
WAYS writing from my feelings always meddling
with what understand and always doing my best Our
love to the guidwife and yourself.
Yours, ever and ever
ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.
Tnos PRMaLE ESQ
QuIDSuKc meaning literally, ..What 2? is another
for newsmonger Miss Martineau used to tell
pleasant story about of the class who taking advan
tage of the interest excited among scientific in
ation to the Ross and Back expedition, than
usually annoying by his fussy questions Sir David
Sir David r. he called out at the top Of his voice.
fine morning in London. Sir David Brewster, who
riding down the street in somewhat Of hurry, drew up
his horse and approached the speaker. '.Any news
from the north pole, Sir David r. .sD-n the north
pole r. the angry reply of the philosopher, he
hastily pursued his way again, leaving the quinunc
transfixed with amazement 'What il the matter, Mr.
- r. inquired the Rev. Sidney Smith, who came up
Immediately after the occurrence The unfortunate man
told his story and dilated upon the style Of the
he had receiyed-''so unbecomng in Of his stand
ingso abrupt not to say profane. D--n the north
pole r
Poh, poh my dear sir" said his comforter, ''you
must not mind all that Sir Davidsays elsa singular
You would scarcely believe it. but you il is only
few evenings ago that heard him. before large
pany speak in the most disrespectul terms of the equa
tor ~
The mention of the Ross and Back expeditions the
Arctic regions calls to mind good thing that said
by one Of the English papers the return of Ross in
search Of whom Captain Back had been sent out by the
British government ''We happy to inform read
ers that although Back has not succeeded in finding
Ross, Ross has got back r.
M Burger, in his recent 'iTresors dart Exposes
Manchester 1857, pays the following compliment to
Benjamin West
" Benjamin West, like Wilson, who was at least as
vigorous, has passed. and still passes, in England for
great painter. He all honoB and all fayors. He
royal painter and president Of the Royal Academy.
He enjoyed the highest esteem among the arisocracy
and reputation in respects natural He has been
engraved by eminent engayer, and his pictures sold
ut insane prices His Christ Healing the Sick in the
Y,
British institution who offered it to the national gallery
for 900 guneas Can believe then that after all
the President West who helped to develop Constable
and who gave advice to all sorts Of artists be erased
from the list Of English panerss He exists not in the
school, he cannot rank with the dauber of the
tdrat schools do not think that he has the small
est fragment that can he called painting.
This is sweeping assertion but suspect there are
few artists familiar with the pictures Of West who would
dissent from the Frenchman's opinion
The following remarkable poem by Robert Southwell
English Jesuit who born in 1860 and executed at
Tybun in 1885, is in compactness of thought and elcl
y Of expression hardly cqualed by any similar produc
ton within knowledge. 1t is perfect mosaic of
maxims and with very slight alteration would bear cut
ting up into lines, every Of which would an
apothegm We have italicised line of rythmical
beauty:
TIMES GO BY TURNS
The loppcd In may grow again;
Most naked plants both fruit and flower
The sorriest wight may 1nd release from pain
Tho driest soil suck In moiscninp shower
goes BY turns, am chances change y course
From foul 10 fair from better hap to
The sea Of Fortune doth mott ever now
She draws her to the lowest ebb;
Her equal 70:
Her doth the fine and web.
No joy great but runncth TO end
No hap so hard but may in fine amend.
-. ,f.f. .e,.-o r