The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-05-28
Gbc Gritir.
For The Cecil Wing.
Hcmpstead's Poems.

POEMS, ny Rev. T. IIEMrsrEAD, New Y ork
NJ. W. Dodd, 1859.
Nine or ten years ago poctical correspon.
dent made his literary debut through the
columns of The Cecil Wing, over the signature
of" 7. H." and as his verses had the ring OF
the genuine metal about them, it was predlc.
ted that he would some day hold prominent
position in the world Of letters. The youthful
and unassuming " T. III ''-for he was quite
young at the timc--was q student at Delaware
College, and was no other than Thomas
Hampstead, the author of the volume before
us, and who. by the way, also, is Prcsby-
terrain minister.
From the day his first cf'usion appeared in
print, till the present time, many Of his leisure
hours have been devoted to literature, and
he has occasionally contributed to some OF
our leading papers and periodicals, and has
dcservedly won considerable reputation as
poet. Some of theso misc llanoouo proJuo-
tons he has now collected together, and with
the addition Of a few poems never before pub
lishcd, has given us in the shape of Il book
which, in the language ola prominent journal
is 90: slender volume too good to be i'll
spoken of, and not good enough to deserve
special praise" Mr.. Hampstead for some
reason has seen fit to exclude many of his
happicst efforts from this volume. And we
frankly tell him that by so doing he has dis
appointed his friends and admirers. lie has
written quite number of poems far more &C.
ccptablc to the generality Of readers, than arc
any Of those he has here given us, and we ar,
sorry that he has omitted them from this
collection-sorry on our own account, as wei
as on that of Mr.. Hampstead. For we fcal
the cool reception with which this first little
venture is meeting, may deter its author from
again tavoring us with second. We beg
him, however, not to be discouraged lu
to go on developing and cultivating hi
talents. He has no one to blame but himse |
for his book not meeting with more genera
favor, and being more warmly Welcomed
He has in its making up mistaken the
public taste. Most of the poems in THU
volume possess much more than ordinary
merit, but they appeal more to the head thar
the heart, and can, Therefore, never become
popular. They are chaste in rythm, and pur,
in style +; but are too cold and stately for the
masses. They have been touched and re
touched with studious care, and give evidences
OF having been laborously finished; but the,
will never be relishcl-perhaps for that yer.
rcason-eXccpt by the select few.
|
If our friend, Emma Alice Browne, shoul,
publish volume Gas we trust she soon may,
we venture to predict that where the book
sellers dispose of one copy ofMr. Hcmpstead'
book, they would dispose of ten copies o
hers. And why ? Simply because her poem
by their exquisite pathos touch the hearts o
high and low, rich and poor, learned ant
unlearncd- because they address the fee ling
and not the intellect. In this essential, tn
principal portion Of the poems in Mr.. Hemp
stead's book are dcticicnt-thcy lack thos
qualities that excite and stimulate. They IL
not cause the bosom of the lover to thrill witt
tendercr and holier emotion-or come HON
to the heart of the afflicted mother, and sooth
her in her sorrowing for her dear dead babe
After pcrusal Of his volume we lay it aside
and in measure forget it. 1t makes NJ
decided impression upon us. We do no
find ourselves involuntarily repeating line
and phrases from it, that have chung to on
memory, we scarcely know why. Nethe
do we feel longing desire to pick it up yer
now and then to rc-rcad felicitous expires
sion, or stances that struck us as be I'M
peculiarly touching. 1t does not attract II
as some books do.
But Mr.. Hcmstcad's poems are not all O
this order. lie has written many of touching
sweetness that have been widely copied, all,
are remembered with pleasure. They ar
the ones that gained him his reputation an,
they are the ones that should have occupic,
the greater part of this book. Like man,
other authors, however, he is not Judge O
his own writings. Those compositions tina
have cost him the most thought and labor
values the most highly, and thinks the publ
must do SO likewise. In this he is mistaken
Had he engaged some judicious friend t
select the poems for this volumc-some on
we mean, accustomed to cater for the litcrar,
wants and demands of the public, it would
have been eminenty successful. And if hi
expectations in regard to it have not bccl
realized, it is simply because he has no
selected from his writings those things adapte,
to the public taste. Let him not, however
be disheartcncd. His poetic abilities are ia
above the average order. And il he will Civ
freer play to his Imagination and feelings, am
not permit himself to be controlled too mucl
by his metaphysical judgement, his chances
for obtaining high and lasting honors as
poet are By no means unproms.ng.