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

He is fond of underscoring his sentences; a habit exactly parallel with the argumentative nature of some of his best poems. it. The man who invariably writes so well as Mr. G. invariably does, gives evidence of a fine taste, combined with an indefatigability which will ensure -his permanent success in the world’s affairs. No man has warmer friends or fewer enemies. — Mr. Dv Sotte is well known, through his connec- tion with the “Spirit of the Times.” His prose is forcible, and often excellent in other respects. As a poet, he is entitled to higher consideration. Some of his Pindaric pieces are unusually good, and it may be doubted if we have a better versifier in America. Accustomed to the daily toil of an editor, he has contracted a habit of writing hurriedly, and his MS. varies with the occasion. It isimpossible to deduce any inferences from it, as regards the mental charac- ter. The signature shows rather how he can write, than how he does. — j 2 & 3 ye > - 4 | [Source scan page 27] AUTOGRAPHY. Mr. Frencu is the author of a “ Life of David Crockett’’, and also of a novel called ‘ Elkswata- wa’, a denunciatory review of which in the “‘ South- ern Messenger,” some years ago, deterred him from further literary attempts. Should he write again, he The author of ‘‘ Norman Leslie” and ‘‘ The Coun. | tess Ida’’, has been more successful as an essayist - about small matters, than as a novelist. ‘ Norman Leslie’ is more familiarly remembered as ‘ The Great Used Up”, while ‘‘ The Countess” made no definite impression whatever. Of course we are not to expect remarkable features in Mr. Fay’s MS. It will probably distinguish himself, for he is unques- tionably a man of talent. We nied no better evi- dence of this than his MS., which speaks of force, boldness, and originality. The flourish, —"s be- trays a certain floridity of taste. has a wavering, finicky, and over-delicate air, with- out pretension to either grace or force ; and the de- scription of the chirography would answer, without alteration, for that of the literary character. Mr. F. frequently employs an amanuensis, who writes a very beautiful French hand. The one must not be con- | founded with the other. Dr. MitcHett has published several pretty songs which have been set to music, and become popular. He has also given to the world a volume of «poems, of which the longest was remarkable for an old-fash- OA- General Morris has composed many songs which have taken fast hold upon the popular taste, and which are deservedly celebrated. He has caught the true tone for these things, and hence his popularity — a popularity which his enemies would fain make us believe is altogether attributable to his editorial in- fluence. The charge is true only ina measure. The Mr. CALVERT was at one time principal editor of the “‘ Baltimore American,” and wrote for that journal some good paragraphs on the common topics of the day. He has also published many translations from the German, and one or two original poems—among others an imitation of Don Juan called “ Pelayo,’’ which did him no credit. He is essentially a feeble and ioned polish and vigor of sendieation. His MS. is rather graceful than picturesque or forcible—and these words apply equally well to his poetry in gen- common-place writer of poetry, although his prose 24 eral. The — indicates the hand. tone of which we speak is that kind of frank, free, hearty sentiment (rather than philosophy) which dis- tinguishes Béranger, and which the critics, for want of a better term, call nationality. His MS. is asimple unornamented hand, rather ro- tund than angular, very legible, forcible, and alto- gether in keeping with his style. compositions have a certain degree of merit. His chirography indicates the common-place” upon which we have commented. It is a very usual, scratchy, and tapering clerk’s hand—a hand which no man of talent ever did or could indite, unless compelled by circumstances of more than ordinary force. The signature is far better than the general manuscript of his epistles. = oe 4 4 ; 4 & | | | i i= : | 4 ] | by < | i 1 oo Ay Rep f ; F 4 > | i eh. [Source scan page 28] ts ~ > adie 278 AUTOGRAPH Y. ‘ 4 Dr. SNoDGRASs was at one time the associate of Mr. Brooks in the “ Baltimore Museum ’2a mc journal published in the City of Monument years since. He wrote for that Magazine, and has occasionally written for others, articles which pos- sessed the merit of precision of style, and a meta- @ Mr. McJixTon is better known from his contribu- tions to the journals of the day than from any book- publications. He has much talent, and it is not im- probable that he will hereafter distinguish himself, although as yet he has not composed anything of COZ Mr. GALLAGHER is chiefly known asa poet. He is the author of some of our most popular songs, and has written many long pieces of high but unequal merit. He has the true spirit, and will rise into a just distinction hereafter. His manuscript tallies well a t 4 oF « + £4 4 7 AS ce 4 4 3 ht 4 t 4 Tere ta ; | ‘ is 2% } + A € +, 4 at hes | vag Ags 4 > but his defects are many and great. composition than a certain celebrated “ Monody.” | physical cast of thought. We like his prose much better than his poetry. His chirography is bad— stiff, sprawling and illegible, with frequent correc. tions and interlineations, evincing inactivity not less than fastidiousness. The signature betrays a mere. MB His MS. resembles that of Mr. Gallagher very Mr. McMicuatz is well known to the Philadelphia public by the number and force of his prose composi- tions, but he has seldom been tempted into book pub- lication. As a poet, he has produced some remarka- bly vigorous things. We have seldom seen a finer- tricious love of effect. length which, as a whole, can be styled good. His MS. is not unlike that of Dr. Snodgrass, but it is somewhat clearer and better. We can predicate little respecting it, beyond a love of exaggeration and bizarrerte. with our opinion. It is a very fine one —clear, bold, decided and picturesque. The signature above does not convey, in full force, the general character of his chirography, which is more rotund, and more deci- dedly placed upon the paper. CR AF Mr. Dana ranks among our most eminent poets, and he has been the frequent subject of comment in our Reviews. He has high qualities, undoubtedly, nearly, but is somewhat more rolling, and has less boldness and decision. The literary traits of the two gentlemen are very similar, although Mr. Dana is by far the more polished writer, and has a scholarship which Mr. Gallagher wants. His MS., when not hurried, is graceful and flowing, without picturesqueness. At times it is totally illegi- ble. His chirography is one of those which have been so strongly modified by circumstances that it 1s nearly impossible to predicate any thing with cer- tainty respecting them. q j 4; * [Source scan page 29] AUTOGRAPH Y. y Mr. N. C. Brooxs has acquired some reputation as a Magazine writer. His serious prose is often very good —is always well-worded — but in his comic at- tempts he fails, without appearing to be aware of his failure. Asa poet he has succeeded far better. In a work which he entitled ‘Scriptural Anthology” among many inferior compositions of length, there were several shorter pieces of great merit : —for ex- OL ample ‘‘ Shelley’s Obsequies”? and ‘“‘ The Nicthan- thes”. Of late days we have seen little from his His MS. has much resemblance to that of Mr. Bry- ant, although altogether it is a better hand, with much more freedom and grace. With care Mr. Brooks can write a fine MS. just as with care he can compose a fine poem. The Rev. Tuomas H. Stockton has written many pieces of fine poetry, and has lately distinguished _ himself as the editor of the “ Christian World.” His MS. is fairly represented by his signature, and bears much resemblance to that of Mr. N. C. Brooks, of Baltimore. Between these two gentlemen there exists also, a remarkable similarity, not only of thought, but of personal bearing and character. We have already spoken of the peculiarities of Mr. B’s chirography. Mr. THompson has written many short poems, and some of them possess merit. They are characterized by tenderness and grace. ‘His MS. has some resem. blance to that of Professor Longfellow, and by many persons would be thought a finer hand. It is clear, legible and open—what is called a rolling hand. It has too much tapering, and too much variation be- tween the weight of the hair strokes and the down- ward ones, to be forcible or picturesque. In all those qualities which we have pointed out as especially distinctive of Professor Longfellow’s MS. it is re- markably deficient ; and, in fact, the literary charac- ter of na two individuals could be more radically dif. ferent. The Reverend W. E. Cuannine is at the head of our moral and didactic writers. His reputation both at home and abroad is deservedly high, and in regard to the matters of purity, polish and modulation of style, he may be said to have attained the dignity of a standard andaclassic. He has, it is true, been se- verely criticised, even in respect to these very points, by the Edinburg Review. The critic, however, made . out his case but lamely, and proved nothing beyond his own incompetence. To detect occasional, or even frequent inadvertences in the way of bad grammar, faulty construction, or mis-usage of language, is not to prove impurity of style—a word which happily has a bolder signification than any dreamed of by the Zoilus of the Review in question. Style regards, more than anything else, the tone of a composition. All the rest is not unimportant, to be sure, but ap- pertains to the minor morals of literature, and can be learned by rote by the meanest simpletons in letters —can be carried to its highest excellence by dolts who, upon the whole, are despicable as stylists. Ir- ving’s style is inimitable in its grace and delicacy ; yet few of our practised writers are guilty of more frequent inadvertences of language. ‘In what may be termed his mere English, he is surpassed by fifty whom we could name. Mr. Tuckerman’s English on — the contrary is sufficiently pure, but a more lamenta- ble style than that of his ‘Sicily ” it would be diffi- cult to point out. Besides those peculiarities which we have already mentioned as belonging to Dr. Channing’s style, we must not fail to mention a certain calm, broad de- liberateness which constitutes force in its highest character, and approaches to majesty. All these traits will be found to exist plainly in his chirogra- phy, the character of which is exemplified by the signature, although this is somewhat larger than the general manuscript. 279 @ L i | are a3 ‘4 q 4 > er q ie ig ¢ ig & . at a. x 4 4 if 4 ; 4 Sy — a it . "4 [Source scan page 30] AUTOGRAPH Y. Mr. Witmer has written and published much; but he has reaped the usual fruits of a spirit of indepen- dence, and has thus failed to make that impression on the popular mind which his talents, under other cir- ‘cumstances, would have effected. But better days are in store for him, and for all who “hold to the right way,’’ despising the yelpings of the small dogs of our literature. His prose writings have all merit Mr. Dow is distinguished as the author of, many fine sea-pieces, among which will be remembered a series of papers called ‘‘ The Log of Old Ironsides, ” His land sketches are not generally so good. He has a fine imagination, which as yet is undisciplined, and Mr. WELD is well known as the present working editer of the New York ‘“ Tattler” and ‘“ Brother Jonathan.’’ His attention was accidentally directed to literature about ten years ago, after a minority, to use his own words, “ spent at sea, in a store, ina ma- chine shop, and in a printing office.”” He is now, we believe, about thirty-one years of age. His deficien- cy of what is termed regular education would scarce- ly be gleaned from his editorials, which, in general, warm admiration. than