The New York herald., 1870-02-07
LITERATURE.
.,ritici,n,s Of Now Book..

THE Poems OF THOMAS DARCY MCGEE. with
Copous Notes; alsp an Introduction and Bio
graphical Sketch. by Mrs. j. Sadiier. New YORK:
ID. 4 j. Sader a Co.
Among literary men In general ana 10 educated
irlshnen IN particular At was known many years
ago thai Mr. Mc',ee wrote poetry: but do not
think that any person, excepting himself wa, aware
how much ne aad written. We confess 10 having
been somewhat star led by the sight or the ponder
Gus volume containing his poems and. after perus-
ing Mrs. sadiier's vers gracefully written, IL even
somewhat enthusiastically wo:ded, biography, 10
reading the conteniswth feelings OF disappointment.
That they possess merit we do not deny. Their Ian
guage IS warm and glowing aud the verse easy and
lowing. Mr. McGee evidently found no difficulty In
writing. he possessed a prominent characteristic
OF the irisb-sn extensive vocabulary OF
ords, which ne used with great nuency. But here
we must iiuH praise However fmpassiuned Ian
guage may be il must contain IDEAS TO create effect
upon the mind. Here and there throughout the
volume are reai poetic gems-poeln5 that, selected
from amid the mass Or inferior verses, viii live and
Tor many years. But ol the 10 poems hve.sixtns
are rather ordinary productions While all exhibit
traces OF poetic genius most OF them wanting I'm
freshness and originality OF conception and depth OF
thought. they were evidently written on the spur
of the moment aud received bus scant correction
pactness and Ielicity Of expression winch form 20
desirable feature in good poetry The best IDEAS
are marred by dlroseness Instead ofbeing improved
by elaboration. Perhaps II was that Mr.. hcGees po
ntcal occupations UNITED him for poetic compost
non OF hign order IL Is true he wrote before en-
lerinR INTO political hic but all OF hiH earlier pro-
ductons are crude and are wanting I'm hnish.
We nave endeayored 10 briefly state what appears
10 us inc faults OF these poems. TO balance tpe,r
shortcomings l. that Intense passion for ireland her
people anu her traditions, when proved Mr.. McGae
10 nave been true Irlshma1 He never tired OF
sounding the praises of hts native ang. No Irish
poet before him has displayed In song a more ardent
devotion ana Intense patriotism for Jhe Green
Isle. And this feature, which says much for the
poet, VIII undoubtedly recommend his works tte
vast majority 0i ms educated countrymen nut 10
others, and 10 tie c0idly critical especially the
poems must be judged Dy their literary merit. Mr..
Mctee was undoubtedly q man OF genius. hIs ina
ginaton was quick II even somewhat somore; sep,i-
ment and tenderness were conspicuous III his cha
racter: ana yet, while ne possessed all tue elements
tifas constitute great poet, ne seemed incapable To
call them into action or to develop them Certainly
q perusai of this volume wifi leave such impression
upon the minds OF all critical readers.
SALLY CAvANA6H; on, THE UKTENANTED GRAVES
A Tale OF TIpperary. By Charles J. kickham.
Boston: Patrick Donahoc.
Nearly all OF the novels descriptive OF Irish life
published IN the United states at the present time
conspicuous for their political character, and
this story IS not OF tho exceptions. II Is, how
ever, very well written tho incidents numerous
and sufficiently exciting TO retain the attention or
the reader, and the ebaraeters are, in tIe NAM
fairly drawn. The thread OF the plot IL by no me ans
original; but AZ people seem tire OF tile old
story II 10 hardly prontaDie TO condeinn wanS or
originality.