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

scan page 39] AUTOGRAPHY. 299 — so well, that some of his minor pieces may be con- sidered equal to any of the minor pieces of either of the two gentlemen above-mentioned. His longer poems, however, willnot bear examination. ‘Athenia of Damascus ”’ is pompous nonsense, and “ Geraldine”’ a most ridiculous imitation of Don Juan, in which the beauties of the original have been as sedulously avoided, as the blemishes have been blunderingly culled. In style, he is, perhaps, the most inflated, H. W. Loncretiow, (Professor of Moral Philoso- phy at Harvard,) is entitled to the first place among the poets of America— certainly to the first place among those who have. put themselves prominently forth as poets. His good qualities are all of the high- est order, while his sins are chiefly those of affecta- tion and imitation — an imitation sometimes verging upon downright theft. His MS. is remarkably good, and is fairly exem- plified in the signature. We see here plain indica- tions of the force, vigor, and glowing richness of his The Rev. J. Prerront, who, of late, has attracted so much of the public attention, is one of the most accomplished poets in America, His “ Airs of Pal- estine”’ is distinguished by the sweetness and vigor of its versification, and by the grace of its sentiments. Some of his shorter pieces are exceedingly terse and forcible, and none of our readers can have forgotten his Lines on Napoleon. His rhythm is at least equal in strength and modulation to that of any poet in America. Here he resembles Milman and Croly. an Mr. Simms is the author of ‘‘ Martin Faber,” ‘‘ Ata- lantis,” ‘‘Guy Rivers,’ “The Partisan,” ‘ Melli- champe,” ‘‘ The Yemassee,’” ‘‘ The Damsel of Da- rien,” ‘* The Black Riders of the Congaree,”’ and one or two other productions, among which we must not forget to mention several fine poems. As a poet, in- deed, we like him far better than as a novelist. His qualities in this latter respect resemble those of Mr. Kennedy, although he equals him in no particular, 20 involved, and falsely-figurative, of any of our more noted poets. This defect, of course, is only fully appreciable in what are termed his “ sustained ef.- forts,’ and thus his shorter pieces are often exceed- ingly good. His apparent erudition is mere verbiage, and, were it real, would be lamentably out of place where we see it. He seems to have been infected with a blind admiration of Coleridge — especially of his mysticism and cant. | literary style; the deliberate and steady finish of his compositions. The man who writes thus may not accomplish much, but what he does, will always be thoroughly done. The main beauty, or at least one great beauty of his poetry, is that of proportion ; another, is a freedom from extraneous embellishment He oftener runs into affectation through his endeav- ors at simplicity, than through any other cause. Now this rigid simplicity and proportion are easily per ceptible in the MS., which, altogether, is a very ex. cellent one. His chirography, nevertheless, indicates nothing beyond the common-place. It is an ordinary clerk’s hand — one which is met with more frequently than any other. Itis decidedly formed ; and we have no doubt that he never writes otherwise than thus. The MS. of his school-days has probably been persisted in to the last. If so, the fact is in full consonance with the steady precision of his style. The flourish at the end of the signature is but a part of the writer’s general enthusiasm, except in his appreciation of the graceful. In his sense of beauty he is Mr. K.’s superior, but falls be- hind him in force, and the other attributes of the au- thor of Swallow-Barn. These differences and resem- blances are well shown in the MSS. That of Mr. 8. has more slope, and more uniformity in detail, with less in the mass— while it has also less of the pic- turesque, although still much. The middle name is Gilmore ; in the cut it looks like Gilmere. bie — SSP j ; 4 F 4 ¢ | - | : fit BE 4 ta ey Be aS ks | 4 | | | | q | | { 4 [Source scan page 40] Seeks & wt Md ‘ BP “red | Ue * » + rare AY “ 4 2 = din : _prehensiveness of thought, and in the evident frank- AUTOGRAPHY. The Rev. Orestes A. Brownson is chiefly known to the literary world as the editor of the “ Boston Quar- terly Review,” a work to which he contributes, each quarter, at least two-thirds of the matter. He has published little in book-form— his principal works being ‘‘ Charles Elwood,” and “ New Views.” Of these, the former production is, in many respects, one of the highest merit. In logical accuracy, in com- ness and desire for truth in which it is composed, we know of few theological treatises which can be com- pared with it. Its conclusion, however, bears about it a species of hesitation and inconsequence, which betray the fact that the writer has not altogether suc- ceeded in convincing himself of those important truths which he is so anxious to impress upon his readers. Judge Beverty Tucker, of the College of Wil- liam and Mary, Virginia, is the author of one of the best novels ever published in America— “ George Balcombe — although, for some reason, the book was never a popular favorite. It was, perhaps, some- what too didactic for the general taste. He has written a great deal, also, for the ‘ South- ern Literary Messenger ” at different times ; and, at one period, acted in part, if not altogether, as editor of that Magazine, which is indebted to him for some very racy articles, in the way of criticism especially. He is apt, however, to be led away by personal feel- ings, and is more given to vituperation for the mere sake of point or pungency, than is altogether conso- nant with his character as judge. Some five years ago there appeared in the ‘*‘ Messenger,’ under the editorial head, an article on the subject of the “ Pick- wick Papers” and some other productions of Mr. Dickens. This article, which abounded in well- written but extravagant denunciation of everything composed by the author of ‘‘The Curiosity Shop,” We must bear in mind, however, that this is the fault of Mr. Brownson’s subject, and not of Mr. Brownson. However well a man may reason on the great topics of God and immortality, he will be forced to admit tacitly in the end, that God and immortality are things to be felt, rather than demonstrated. On subjects less indefinite, Mr. B. reasons with the calm and convincing force of aCombe. He is, in every respect, an extraordinary man, and with the more extensive resources which would have been afforded him by early education, could not have failed to bring about important results. His MS. indicates, in the most striking manner, the unpretending simplicity, directness, and especial- ly, the indefatigability of hismental character. His signature is more petite than his general chirography. and which prophesied his immediate downfall, we have reason to believe was from the pen of Judge Beverly Tucker. We take this opportunity of men- tioning the subject, because the odium of the paper in question fell altogether upon our shoulders, and it is a burthen we are not disposed and never intended to bear. The review appeared in March, we think, and we had retired from the Messenger in the Janua- ry preceding. About eighteen months previously, and when Mr. Dickens was scarcely known to the public at all, except as the author of some brief tales and essays, the writer of this article took occasion to predict, in the Messenger, and in the most em- phatic manner, that high and just distinction which the author in question has attained. Judge Tuck- er’s MS. is diminutive, but neat and legible, and has much force and precision, with little of the picturesque. The care which he bestows upon his literary compositions makes itself manifest also in his chirography. The signature is more florid than general hand. Mr. Sanperson, Professor of the Greek and Latin languages in the High School of Philadelphia, is well known as the author of a series of letters, entitled ‘‘ The American in Paris.”” These are distinguished by ease and vivacity of style, with occasional profundi- ty of observation, and, above all, by the frequency of their illustrative anecdotes, and figures. In all these particulars, Professor Sanderson is the precise coun- terpart of Judge Beverly Tucker, author of ‘‘ George Balcombe.” The MSS. of the two gentlemen: are nearly identical. Both are neat, clear and legible. Mr. Sanderson’s is somewhat the more crowded. ME. Goutoe. About Miss Goutp’s MS. there is great neatness, picturesqueness, and finish, wHhout over-effeminacy. The literary style of one who writes thus will always he remarkable for sententiousness and epigramma- tism; and these are the leading features of Miss Gould’s poetry. 4 230 if A if | az } i | | | | +i ; 4 [Source scan page 41] AUTOGRAPH Y. Prof. Henry, of Bristol College, is chiefly known by his contributions to our Quarterlies, and as one of the originators of the New-York Review, in conjunc- tion with Dr. Hawks and Professor Anthon. His chirography is now neat and picturesque, (much re- sembling that of Judge Tucker,) and now excessive- ly scratchy, clerky, and slovenly — so that it is near- Mrs. Empury is chiefly known by her contributions | to the Periodicals of the country. She is one of the most nervous of our female writers, and is not desti- tute of originality—that rarest of all qualities in a woman, and especially in an American woman. Mr. Lanpor acquired much reputation as the author of “ Stanley,” a work which was warmly commend. _ed by the press throughout the country. He has also written many excellent papers for the Magazines. His chirography is usually petite, without hair-lines, close, and somewhat stiff. Many words are carefully Miss Lescte is celebrated for the homely natural- | ness of her stories and for the broad satire of her comic style. She has written much for the Maga- zines. Her chirography is distinguished for neatness and finish, without over-effeminacy. It is rotund, and somewhat diminutive ; the letters being separate, ly impossible to say anything respecting it, except that it indicates a vacillating disposition, with un- settled ideas of the beautiful. None of his epistles, in regard to their chirography, end as well as they begin. This trait denotes fatigability. His signa- ture, which is bold and decided, conveys not the faint- est idea of the general MS. Her MS. evinces a strong disposition to fly off at a tangent from the old formule of the Boarding Acade- mies. Both in it, and in her literary style, it would be well that she should no longer hesitate to discard the absurdities of mere fashion. erased. His epistles have always a rigorous formal ity about them. The whole is strongly indicative of his literary qualities. He is an elaborately careful, stiff, and pedantic writer, with much affectation and great talent. Should he devote himself ultimately to letters, he cannot fail of high success. She is never particular about the quality of her pa- per or the other externals of epistolary correspond- ence. From her MSS. in general, we might sup- pose her solicitous rather about the effect of her com- positions as a whole, than about the polishing of the constituent parts. There is much of the picturesque - and the words always finished with an inward twirl. | Mr. Nea has acquired a very extensive reputation | through his “ Charcoal Sketches,” a series of papers originally written for the “‘ Saturday News,” of this city, and afterwards published in book form, with il- lustrations by Johnston. The whole design of the ‘ Charcoal Sketches” may be stated as the depicting of the wharf and street loafer ; but this design has been executed altogether in caricature. The extreme of burlesque runs throughout the work, which is, also, chargeable with a tedious repetition of slang and iucident. The loafer always declaims the same non- sense, in the same style, gets drunk in the same way, and is taken to the watch-house after the