'WASHINGTON: A NATIONAL POEM.'--Who was it contributed five pounds
toward the payment of the English national debt? He was such a
benefactor to Britain, in a pecuniary point of view, as the author
of this 'WASHINGTON' poem is to our national literature. To judge
from his high-sounding preface, one would think that MILTON was
to be out-done, and the fame of by-gone poets utterly eclipsed.
The writer went into a 'state of retiracy' and 'threw himself into
his task.' He 'read, mused, and meditated; wrote and re-wrote.' He
rose early and reposed late; 'sleepless himself, to give to others
sleep!' He 'prepared himself long and laboriously' for his great
effort, and 'laid his foundations deep.' And the result is, that he
has given us an _original_ poem which sets criticism at defiance. In
this judgment, unless 'we bedoubt them o'ermuch,' to use our poet's
words, his readers will at least agree with us. Since the 'travail
in spirit' of Dr. M'HENRY, in bringing forth 'The Antediluvians' in
twelve books--an ominous number in the present instance also--we
have seen nothing to compare with the pains and perils which our
poet must have suffered and dared, in giving birth to the literary
offspring under notice. Our candid and deliberate advice to the
author is, to bottle up Book First in spirits, and strangle its
eleven brothers.
'ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE CROTON AQUEDUCT.'--We regret that we did
not receive this noble work of Mr. F. B. TOWER, of the Engineer
Department, in time for adequate notice in the present number. As it
is, we cannot forbear to call public attention to its great merits.
The volume is a superb quarto, containing upward of twenty large and
exceedingly well-executed engravings, illustrating all the important
structures on the entire line of the Aqueduct, from its source; its
tunnels, aqueducts, bridges, reservoirs, fountains, etc. In the
letter-press, which we should not omit to add does great credit to
the care and skill of the printer, Mr. OSBORN, we find a clear and
comprehensive history of the preliminary measures which led to the
accomplishment of this great enterprise, together with accounts of
the aqueducts of ancient Rome, and of the Romans in other parts of
Europe, as well as of the modern Roman, Italian, French, Mexican,
and South American works, of a kindred character. Messrs. WILEY AND
PUTNAM are the publishers.
'CLONTARF, OR THE FIELD OF THE GREEN BANNER,' is the title of an
Irish Historical Romance, in verse, by JOHN AUGUSTUS SHEA, which
reaches us at too late an hour for adequate perusal and notice. Not
to pass it wholly by, however, we are fain to say, that in hastily
reading a passage here and there through the volume, we have been
struck with the warm spirit of freedom which it breathes, the easy
flow of its versification, and its frequently agreeable imagery and
faithful pictures of passion. The poetical introduction is fervid
and felicitous. A few minor poems, which have acquired general
celebrity, among them that fine address to the ocean, 'Likeness of
Heaven!' etc., close the volume; which being published by APPLETON
AND COMPANY is of course in good keeping in its externals.
THE NORTH-AMERICAN REVIEW, for the July quarter, is an excellent
issue of that always respectable Quarterly. The leading paper, upon
the life and character of THOMAS PAINE, is written with great power,
and with evident familiarity with all the details of the history
of its notorious subject. STEPHENS'S 'Travels in Yucatan' and Miss
BREMER'S novels are noticed in terms of well-deserved praise.
These, with an entertaining and instructive article upon the cod,
mackerel, and herring fisheries, are all which we have found leisure
to read. The remaining papers are upon the 'Mutiny of the Somers,'
DRAKE'S 'Northern Lakes and Southern Invalids,' 'The School and the
School-master,' 'The Nestorian Christians,' 'Classical Studies,' and
the usual briefer 'Critical Notices.'
MR. NISBET'S LECTURE.--We have perused the lecture delivered before
the Georgia Historical Society at Savannah, by Mr. EUGENIUS A.
NISBET, with satisfaction and pleasure. The writer's remarks upon
the drama; the tendency of French literature; the necessity of an
international copy-right law; the intellectual inheritance which
we have derived from England; and the influence of domestic airs
and national songs; are exceedingly forcible and just. We commend
especially Mr. NISBET'S argument in favor of literary protection
to those liberal-minded casuists who would at the same time pick
an author's brains and his pockets, and defend the justice of the
operation, on the ground that the victim could not help it, and that
_somebody_ would rob him if _they_ did not!
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Minor typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected without
note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been
retained as printed.
Mismatched quotes are not fixed if it's not sufficiently clear where
the missing quote should be placed.
The cover for the eBook version of this book was created by the
transcriber and is placed in the public domain.