The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-20
NEW ROCKS

\
r., Professor of English Literature in the University Of
engavn in hefrst style Of he art mostly from
original designs by eminent artists vol, Svo Philade
pha: f. II. Butler Co 1860
We have received from Messrs. Jno Murphy
Co. copy of this very elegant volume, which
forms an appropriate pendant to the Gallery of
"Famous Poets" published, last year, by Messrs
Butler Co., under the same editorial direction
We can perceive but little difference in the me-
chanical excellence ofthe two works, each being as
admirable in Typography as skill and taste can
make it. The illustrations of the volume before us,
though not all exactly in 'the first style of the art
are still, for the most part very creditable; the
binding is rich and massive, and nothing is want
ing to make it as attractive could be desired to
the buyers of gft-books of the best class The Sc
lections, too, in the main, are very well made af-
fordng fair specimens of the style and ability OF
the poetesses, who are thought worthy to shine in
Professor Coppee's galaxy.
1t is, perhaps, hardly fair to Judge a work of the
chiefly ornamental character of that upon which
we are commenting, by any very elevated standard
of literary merit but it has, late, become so Gus
tomary to reproduce, at this season. the poetry of
the best masters, with all the aid which illustra-
tive and mechanical art give to it, that we think
Professor Coppie might have hesitated little be-
fore he placed in competition good deal of the
more than doubtful verse to which many of his
pages surrendered. Joanna Baillie and Eliza
beth Barrett Browning are great names, certainly.
Mrs. kemble, Miss Landon, Mrs. Hemans and a
score OF others like them, are known to fame, and
in their several degrees, deserve it. 1t is WELL
therefore, to weave garland of the flowers which
such hands have scat tered; for the hue and the
perfume of genius are upon them, though, it NAV
kn
henG for what taste appreciation MIR. Coppee
supposes himself to be catering, when he resusci-
tates many of the forgotten agazine-scribbings
of our own country, and hands them down to pos
terity on tinted and gilt-edged paper. Last year,
were constrained to observe that he had given
the freedom of Heicon to several of the masculine
gender, who were very i'll at ease among the
MUSES.; but his gallantry on the present occasion,
has altogether away with his discretion and
he to have felt bound to open the door of his
temple to every strong-mnded woman who
raped vigorously or coaxingly at the door.
Turning to his ''Introduction, for some expla-
nation of the principles upon which he has gotten
Mrs. E. Cakes Smith and the authoress of "Aurora
"Leigh" together, we find it to be, chiefly, that
they are both women. "Woman's voice." he OBJ
serves sis the sweetest of earthly musc and with
ton, like that of most others, depends very much
upon circumstances, he appears to have thought
that, the woman and the voice being given, the
music and the sweetness followed a matter of
course. Now, we do not precisely see the logic of
this-nor do think that the Professor has helped
it much, by the chapter upon "spirit-words,"
"heart- melodies" "teadril-like caspngs," 'baby-
"hands," and ''little heads nesting upon Young
''mothers bosoms," with which he hes kent il COM
pany. In our critical capacity, we feel bound To
steel our hearts-as think Professor Copnee
ought to have hardened his-against any sucb ha-
wildering considerations. We must iudpe tho
daughters OF song-precisey as we would Judge
the sons OF the same-accordng to their music and
not their 'palm-like affections or personal s.orace
"and beauty" Looking, indeed, at the portraits
in the volume before us-which appear, for the
most part, to confirm the theory that the beauty
of the soul does not always shine in the features
we think that Mr. Coppee has allowed his enthus-
asm to be excited by small provocatiOn
ever charmed a grave man into weakness. Lothario
himself might have safe in judgment upon the
claims of the fair candida ties for Immortality with
out being in the slightest degree affected by their
faces-as the engraver has disclosed them to the
day. We would fain believe that injustice has been
done them, and that several, to whom the BURN
mas been especially unkind, are much less addicted
" "nat Mr.. Coppee calls "mpassioned utterances,"
fear. "oulu leau US 10
ell 80 more with the Professor bafora -
hook and ;-s our readers to buy his handsoroa
anu Juuge Its merits for themselves w
Nc mean oy calling many respeotah,o a'
F0S's nave the days of sspoetesses,,