A Chapter on Autography and An Appendix of Autographs — Poe, 1841–1842 — reading text

would generally be called a fine hand, but is some- what too clerky for our taste. Whe. His chirography is remarkably fine, and a quick fancy might easily detect, in its graceful yet pic- turesque quaintness, an analogy with the vivid drol- lery of his style. The signature is a fair specimen of the general MS. i ns Bisnor Doane, of New Jersey, is somewhat more extensively known in his clerical than in a literary capacity, but has accomplished much more than suffi- cient in the world of books to entitle him to a place among the most noted of our living men of letters. The compositions by which he is best known were published, we believe, during his professorship of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres in Washington College, Hartford. His MS. has some resemblance to that of Mr. Greely of ‘‘The Tribune.” The signature is far bolder and altogether better than the general hand. Wbm=- Fhe. We believe that Mr. ALzert Pisce has never pub- lished his poems in book form; nor has he written anything since 1834. His ‘‘Hymns to the Gods,” and ‘*Ode to the Mocking Bird,’ being printed in Blackwood, are the chief basis of his reputation.” His lines “To Spring” are, however, much better in every respect, and a little poem from his pen, entitled “ Ariel,” and originally published in the ‘ Boston Pearl,” is one of the finest of American compositions. Mr. Pike has unquestionably merit, and that of a high order. His ideality is rich and well-disciplined. He is the most classic of our poets in the best sense of the term, and of course his classicism is very dif- ferent from that of Mr. Sprague —to whom, never- ‘theless, he bears much resemblance in other respects. Upon the whole, there are few of our native writers to whom we consider him inferior. His MS. shows clearly the spirit of his intellect. We observe in it a keen sense not only of the beau- tiful and graceful but of the picturesque — neatness, precision and general finish, verging upon effeminacy. In force it is deficient. The signature fails to convey the entire MS. which depends upon masses for its peculiar character. [Source scan page 48] &. 48 GRAHAM’S MAGAZINE. Dr. James McHenry, of Philadelphia, is well known to the literary world as the writer of numerous articles in our Reviews and lighter journals, but, more especially, as the author of ‘The Antedilu- vians,” an epic poem which has been the victim of a most shameful cabal in this country, and the sub- ject of a very disgraceful pasquinade on the part of Professor Wilson. Whatever may be the demerits, in some regard, of this poem, there can be no ques- tion of the utter want of fairness and even of com- mon decency which distinguished the Phillipic in question. The writer of a jwst review of the ‘ Ante- diluvians” —the only tolerable American epic— would render an important service to the literature of his country. Dr. McHenry’s MS. is distinct, bold and simple, without ornament or superfluity. The signature well conveys the idea of the general hand. QS Arlt. Mrs. R. 8. Nicnots has acquired much reputation of late years, by frequent and excellent contribu- tions to the Magazines and Annuals. Many of her compositions will be found in our pages. Her MS. is fair, neat and legible, but formed some- what too much upon the ordinary boarding-school model to afford any indication of character. The signature is a good specimen of the hand. Mr. Ricnarp Apams Locke is one among the few men of wnguestionable genius whom the country pos- sesses. Of the ‘‘Moon Hoax” it is supererogatory to say one word — not to know that argues one’s self unknown. Its rich imagination will long dwell in the memory of every one who read it, and surely if the worth of any thing Is just so much as it will bring — if, in short, we are to judge of the value of a literary composition in any degree by its effect—then was the ‘“‘ Hoax”’ most precious. But Mr. Locke is also a poet of high order. We Mr. Rate Waxpo Emerson belongs to a class of gentlemen with whom we have no patience what- ever — the mystics for mysticism’s sake. Quintilian mentions a pedant who taught obscnrity, and who once said toa pupil ‘this is excellent, for I do not understand it myself.’ How the good man would have chuckled over Mr. E! His present rdle seems to be the out-Carlyling Carlyle. Lycophron Tenebrosus is a fool to him. The best answer to his twaddle is cui bono ?—a very little Latin phrase very generally mistranslated and misunderstood — cae bono?—to whom is it a benefit? If not to Mr. Emerson individually, then surely to no man living. have seen — nay more — we have heard him read — verses of his own which would make the fortune of two-thirds of our poetasters ; and he is yet so modest as never to have published a volume of poems. As an editor — as a political writer — as a writer in gene- ral—we think that he has scarcely a superior in America. There is no man among us to whose sleeve we would rather pin—not our faith (of that we say nothing) — but our judgment. His MS. is clear, bold and forcible — somewhat modified, no doubt, by the circumstances of his edi- torial position — but still sufficiently indicative of his fine intellect. His love of the obscure does not prevent him, never- theless, from the composition of occasional poems in which beauty is apparent by lashes. Several of his effusions appeared in the ‘“‘ Western Messenger” ~~ more in the “ Dial,’’ of which he is the soul — or the sun—or the shadow. We remember the “Sphynx,” the ‘ Problem,” the ‘Snow Storm,” and some fine old-fashioned verses entitled ‘ Oh fair and stately maid whose eye.” His MS. is bad, sprawling, illegible and irregular 1 «although sufficiently bold. This latter trait may be, and no doubt is, only a portion of his general affectation, [Source scan page 49] 49 f IN Jat The name of Gutian C. Verpianck has long been familiar to all American readers, and it is scarcely necessary to say more than that we coincide in the general view of his merits. His orations, reviews, and other compositions all evince the cultivated belles-lettres scholar, and man of intellect and taste. To high genius he has about. the same claim as Mr. Sprague, whom in many respects he closely resem- bles. His chirography is unusually rambling and school- boyish — but has vigor and precision. It has no doubt been greatly modified by adventitious circum- stances, so that it would be impossible to predicate anything respecting it.