Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-05-13
RUssELL,s MAGAZINE.

We have given the May number OF RusseH o.
hasty glance, and find portions Of it very attrac.
rive. The leader, "OnE1ndependent Thinking" is
rather too didactio in thought and style for a
popular article. The review Of "Rsndalrs Life
Of Thomas Jefferson" however, has all the raei-
ness Of a good essay. It|presents O vivid and nm
partial view of q man, who, more than any one
else, has stamped his genius on the American
mind. In the development Of JErrERsos's life
and character, he is brought into contrast with
two prominent actors, the gifted and unfortunate
HAMILTON, and t Q no less brilliant and'unfortu-
nate BURR. The writer stands up manfullysin
defence of the latter. sgainst the ':sleuth- hounds
of JEFFERSON and HAMILTON" ''Time's high
court" is about to revoke the summary Judgment,
which consigned the American CHESTERFIELD to
temporary odium. The d~auntless spirit the
manners, the BYRoN1o defiance. and the brilliant
intellect Of BuRR-all combined to make him
more q popular idol, than even HAMILTON with his
luminous eloquence, or JEFFERSON with his demo,
cratic proclivities. To US, BURR has always ap-
peared q better man than public opinion, founded
on baseless. ISLANDERS, allowed him to be. About
his celebrated duel, much has been said and writ
ten. No impartial man can doubt that according
to the laws of honor, as recognized by HAMILTON.
BURR was perfectly justifable. Yet we cannot al.
together forgive him that he ignored one Of the
most beautiful tenets Of Christianity, and cut off
the most splendid, if sometimes too speculative,
intellect of the Revolution.
The next article which struck our fancy was
European Acquaintance" We are introduced to
the "Jupter plupiius Of Graefenbuirg'' and his by
dropathic followers in a review ofMr. DeFoREsT's
sketches Of people in Europe. We wish the ghost
of PRlEesNETz would visit the Southern people this
summer for, our chivalry to the contrary not
withstanding, we ore culpably negligent in regard
to bathing and far too skeptical about the "water
cure"
"The Cob Pipe" is a genial tale Of 'strue love"
that did not s'run smooth" in Dutch Fork. 1t is
written with considerable sprightliuess and humor,
and indicates the genius Of DR.. MEYER, If we mis-.
take not.
THE Fugitive Poetry of J. WooD DAvIDsos"is
an appreciatiye though brief notice of the mis-
oellaneous poetry of one Of our own gifted con-
tributors. The writer forms the following conclu-
sion in regard to his style and the peculiar bent of
bis genius: &C.,.
1t has been sometimes objected that his style is
obscure. Now, it may be well to observe, that OBJ
security is intirely relative: Smith may see the
point, Jones may not; and before we conclude up
on q defect so important as this We ought to be
sure whether it be our oun fault or the authors:
in the same manner that Coleridge, gave bis eau
ton, until you understand q writer's ig ORANGE.
presume yourself ignorant Of his understanding"
Besides, there is certain obscurity which isinsep Z
from particular kinds Of decomposition, and as
Bayne remarks, "attendant upon; certain moods Of
genius 1.-THE strong surge Of passion, bearing a wri-
ter along, may render him incapable ofattending to
the small niceties Of composition and putting In
those little links on which clearness depends. NJ
The theme, too, may Be so remote from Mebeaten tracks
of thought, the idea may so far underlie the general
growM ofpraeteaI Thinking, that effort beyond
what all readers will give, is necessary. to their
Moreover Mr.. Davidson is fastidi-
Gus in his forms of expression-his taste is dainty
in the selection of words, and his sublimated
of utterance often give the idea of obscurity.
Tenny-on, Poe, and Keats, and above oil the
Brownings, have evidently had much toAdo> with
the formation of his style. This,+we need scarcely
is peculiarly the spirit of the compositions OF
last quarter of a centuary critical in choice
words, dainty in music, to that degree that our
later school ia called obscure In the one respect,
in the other. As to subjects, Mr.. Da-
Wilson'S writing are, for the most part npon
the varied themes of Solitude and Isolation and
that indefnable something which Is
darker than sorrow, more digni6ed than lmelan;
usually the key note. Alone-alone-
alone rings from these stains, too often for Demo-
critan philosophers. In the words OF Poe, "a
certain faint Of sadness is inseparably connected
all the higher manifestations oftrue Beauty"
Next, perhaps, is Love of Nature-his descrip-
tons Of scenery are all we'll done; and in these
it is a rare gift.
Another highly poetic element, often aimed at
and not generally attained. is unliteralness; mere
Observation-Disclosures the mind intentionally into an
sphere of thought, fancy or feeling.
The article concludes with a wish that Mr.. D.,
give us q complete edition Of his poems. We
heartily join in the wish, and shall be glad to see
him neatly bound by the side of SIMMs, CALDWELL,
HAYNE, GRAYsoN, MEEE and other poets of the
South.
The original editorial matter is scarce, for which
the editor puts up the legitimate plea Of sickness.
FROM EUROPE.