New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-07-29

DIR. johnson said, "When q nobeman appears
"as author, bis merit should be handsomely ac-
knowledged"-a remark to which Byron unfor-
tunately alluded in the preface to the orly foolish
book which be wrote; and for which indiscretion
he was fably and ferventy castissted by tbs Edn-
burph Review. The author Of certain volume
now befoIe us must have been Of the Doctors mind,
when he had tie tenerty to rush into print he
NAV no! he nobleman, but he is evidently accua-
toned TO The best society-below stairs. His posi-
ton may be humble. He may, in the literal sense
of the word, have assisted at the festival which he
has so graphically described. He may have been
tie butler and brewed the punch. He may have
been the man,nilliner aud furnished the dresses,
ayaing himself Of the masquerade to contemplate
ncceDito his own professional triumphs. But
whatever he WAS before that momentous evening
be ceItaip, went home diyinely inflated, borrowed
the cooke pen ard ink, ard produced " A Metrca
"Des cription of Fancy Ball given at Washington,
Goth Anil, 1855" BY Mrs. Senator Gwin. The
erm.ne and silk, the armor and pumes, the dia-
monds snd the plads, to say nothing OF the SALAD
and cbsmpaere, the ankles and the beamlng eyes,
all inspired him. DE wrote a book, and II has
been printed PRETTY, as became its dainty subject.
The flies of fashion are here embslmed in pure an-
Der. In one respect this production reminds us OF
that NEST et CANT of poetcal tI1es, " The Rape oil
the Lock Pcpe's poem is written 10 decasyllaoc
verse. ard so is .hs. Here, We are bound to say,
the resemblance ceases, the older poem being
rather the better. A slight ncongruity, however,
must be noticed Upon the ttle-psge, this poem is
| called "a Metlical Description and in another
plsce it is called "A Metrics Glance" How a
man can glance metrically is more than we know,
unless there be an alusion here to the fine frenzy
of the poets art. Whether the word glance"
is intended to intimate that the bard .aw the gsye-
ties through key hole, we leave other commenta
toIs to determine.
Like that distinguished author Mr.. Charles Vel.
lowpusb, this writer is little ashamed of his new
business. He Informs US that Washington 10 a
place "wheIe snobbish scribblers che the scanty
"dole:" which shows that fortunately he does not
deperd uron his Own quill for livelihood. If We
are wrorg in this conjecture we can EASILY sc:ount
for another line, in which he complains that "bad
"botels in pose their onerous tsx." II is some
times exceedingly ioconyenient for poets to settle
tier monthly bills: and it IS sonnet mss equally
irconyenien. for the host to wait. Thtss two in.
cCuveuiences result sometimes in third, which is
the application positrori Of the toe Of tAe cdig.
nsnt tSyerrtr to the person of the INDECENT guest
who is thus thrust, without bis bsgssse, upon the
cold charity Of an unfeelng world. ImmcrserOus
treatment Of this kind may have cuTdlsd the FEEL
irgs Of this bard toward the whole tribe of bOni-
faces, collectively or individually considered. And
so naturally does he stream Of criticism flow after
it has fairly ard fully started, that We are not
necessarily an AIistarchus because we comprehend
at glsrce the Influences which coaxed this natu'
rally sstiricsl creature into comPlsceucy. Mn.
Gwin IL the bland hostess The Honorable Mr..
Gw.n is "s pillar of the State"-why not Dol
ster'-and is said, ike ga good Amphitryon TO
"psy his graceful part the play and the grace
fulnts being We suppose, perfectly elephanfne'
Mrs. Gwin "hsapsths s,dnss, Of the festTe hour.