New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06


TII5 u Pr. FRENEAT, THE FQET OF THE REV
OH L4.N- A History q His Life and Times
~ Mary :. Austin Edited by Helen kearuy
Nreelarc. G-eat-era 2 d1aushter OF The Poet
eFo, pp. 81, - A vessels Company
THAT rascal Freneau." as Washington called
him. is remembered more Is the journalist who
was the associate 4 not the tool q Jefferson in
the campaign q abuse and diatIlbe which from
the vantage ground q the State Department
they carried on against the administration in
which they served than IS poet OF original
genius. These volumes are intended 10 do JUS
tice 10 Freueau's memory and secure for him
appreciation not only as the singer who best
gave voice 10 the Revolutionary spirit and helped
70 keep abiaze the patriot passions, but as one
OF the earliest American poets whose work is
worthy 10 DE cherished Tor its intrinsic value in
the field OF pure literature Philip Freueau,
the Poet OF the Revolution" is more than 4
biography. Il is series OF Interesting chapters
o. Colonial families and customs the HuEue-
nots and The Edlct Of Nantes. which find
slender thread Of unity ia Freneau and his near
or remote connections. Il is appropriately dedi-
Gated 10 the sons and daughters Of the Reyolu-
ton, for considerable attention is devoted 10 the
families down 20 recent years Of persons men
toned, and the genealogical suggestion IS en-
Thasized by the index. which consists ex-
clusiyely OF family names Imagination is
a perhaps" 1t may be SUPPOSED serves as a
peg which 10 hang some pleasing conjecture
calculated TO enhance the poets reputation
Neyertheless. Ifeiike picture Of Freneau is
presented which commands sympathy and
aWakers the reader 10 a sense Of The substantial
debt that America owes 10 him as a poet and
pure minded. II violently partisan patriot
Mr. Pattee's sketch, as is 10 be expected OF a
Biographical introduction 10 a collection OF
included In the present volume. is more critical
and more closely confined 10 the subject though
the poets history is told In the fullest detail that
authentic Information permits 10 complete
edition Of Freneau's poems exists. The three
collections made IL his lifetime were only par
tiaL and are now extremely rare while many Of I
his verses were published in newspapers or /
circulated In leaflets through the camps and /
among the people, and are found now only IN 1
unique copies. Mr.. Pattee has done a service TO /
American letters and 10 American history il I
collecting them and securing their preservation /
Philip Freneau Mas the grandson q a Hugue- /
not refugee who settled IN New-York in 17O7 /
He was born in this city in 1872 When he was /
Gen years Ole his family removed 10 Monmouth |
County \. J, where with intervals OF Journalism
and seafaring, the poet made his home through j
Lfe lie was graduated from Princeton in 171l, !
having been an intimate Of James Madison. and
one q the founders % the American Whig So
Getty. which stiu exists as one Of the two great
student organ izations IN that institution. For
81 many OF his earliest verses were written and
some o. his schoolboy satires on student rivals
were afterward revised and turned against Brit
ISL foes After a short period OF school teach
ing In 1775. he appeared IN New-York as con-
tributor 20 The Constitutional Gazette" OF
patriotic verses. which were extremely popular.
At the end OF the year he went 10 the West
Indies. and spent two years there writing the
three most significant Of his dozen non-poIitical
poems. santa Cruz" The Jamaica Funeral"
and The House OF Night" The last OF these Is
q highly Imaginative piece, fun OF weirdness
and mystery, which have suggested comparl-
sons with Poe; bU; Freneau, with a real creative
power, cid not have anything OF that hypnotic
witche-y with which Poe could set nerves
tingling Attempting 70 make second trip 10
the West Indies IL 1870. be was captured by
the British and was confined in one OF the
prison ships IN NeW-YOrk Harbor. there &C
curing AZ experience and a hatred which found
vivid expression il some OF his later RevOlu-
tioua-y verses The next three years were en-
Toye6 IL editing The Freeman's Journal" OF
Philadelphia and In writing patriotic poems.
Then for six years he was sea captain. but
his marriage in 1870 he became Editor OF The
New-Tork Daily Advertiser" and continued that
work until the next year. when he was Induced
by Jefferson 70 become translating clerk IN the
del