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

fearlessly what he believes honestly, is pretty sure to find an echo (if the speaker be not mad) in the vast heart of the world at large. The “‘ Writings of Cuartes Spracue” were first collected and published about nine months ago, by Mr. Charles 8S. Francis, of New-York. At the time of the issue of the book, we expressed our opinion frankly, in respect to the general merits of the author —an opinion with which one or two members of the Boston press did not see fit to agree — but which, as yet, we have found no reason for modifying. What we say now is, in spirit, merely a repetition of what we said then. Mr. Sprague is an accomplished belles-lettres scholar, so far as the usual ideas of scholarship extend. He is avery correct rhetorician of the old school. His versification has not been equalled by that of any American—has been sur- passed by no one, living or dead. In this regard there are to be found finer passages in his poems than any elsewhere. These are his chief merits. In the essen- tials of poetry he is excelled by twenty of our coun- trymen whom we could name. Except in a very few instances he gives no evidence of the loftier ideality. His ‘Winged Worshippers” and “Lines on the Death of M.S. C.” are beautiful poems — but he has written nothing else which should be called so. His ‘‘ Shakspeare Ode,” upon which his high reputation mainly depended, is quite a second-hand affair — with no merit whatever beyond that of a polished and vigorous versification. Its imitation of ‘ Collins’ Ode to the Passions” is obvious. Its allegorical conduct is mawkish, passé, and absurd. The poem, upon the whole, is just such a one as would have obtained its author an Etonian prize some forty or fifty years ago. It is an exquisite specimen of man- nerism without meaning and without merit —of an artificial, but most inartistical style of composition, of which conventionality is the soul, — taste, nature and reason the antipodes. A man may be a clever financier without being a genius. It requires but little effort to see in Mr. Sprague’s MS. all the idiosyncrasy of his intellect. Here are distinctness, precision, and vigor — but vigor em- ployed upon grace rather than upon its legitimate functions. The signature fully indicates the general hand—in which the spirit of elegant imitation and conservatism may be seen reflected as in a mirror. [Source scan page 45] AN APPENDIX OF 45 AUTOGRAPHS. Mr. Cornetius Matuews is one of the editors of ‘‘ Arcturus,” a monthly journal which has attained much reputation during the brief period of its exist- ence. He isthe author of ‘ Puffer Hopkins,” a clever satirical tale somewhat given to excess in caricature, and also of the well-written retrospective criticisms which appear in his Magazine. He is better known, Mr. Caries Fenno Horrman is the author of “A Winter in the West,” “ Greyslaer,” and other productions of merit. At one time he edited, with much ability, the ‘‘ American Monthly Magazine” in conjunction with Mr. Benjamin, and, subsequently, with Dr. Bird. He is a gentleman of talent. wees Mr. Horace GREELY, present editor of “‘ The Tri- bune,” and formerly of the “‘ New-Yorker,”’ has for many years been remarked as one of the most able and honest of American editors. He has written much and invariably well. His political knowledge is equal to that of any of his contemporaries — his general information extensive. As a belles-lettres critic he is entitled to high respect. His MS. is a remarkable one—having about it a peculiarity which we know not how better to de- signate than as a converse of the picturesque. His characters are scratchy and irregular, ending with ok, however, by “The Motley Book,”’ published some years ago — a work which we had no opportunity of reading. He is a gentleman of taste and judgment, unquestionably. His MS. is mueh to our liking— bold, distinct and picturesque — such a hand as no one destitute of talent indites. The signature conveys the hand. ——_ His chirography is not unlike that of Mr. Matthews. It has the same boldness, strength, and picturesque- ness, but is more diffuse, more ornamented and less legible. Our fac-simile is from a somewhat hurried signature, which fails in giving a correct idea of the general hand. an abrupt taper — if we may be allowed this contra- diction in terms, where we have the fac-stmile to prove that there is no contradiction in fact. All abrupt MSS., save this, have square or conevzse ter- minations of the letters. The whole chirography puts us in mind of a jig. We can fancy the writer jerking up his hand from the paper at the end of each word, and, indeed, of each letter. What mental idiosyncrasy lies perdu beneath all this, is more than we can say, but we will venture to assert that Mr. Greely (whom we do not know personally) is, per- sonally, a very remarkable man. Vio tivon) The name of Mr. Prosper M. Wermoreis familiar to all readers of American light literature. He has written a great deal, at various periods, both in prose and poetry, (but principally in the latter) for our Papers, Magazines and Annuals. Of late days we have seen but little, comparatively speaking, from his pen. His MS. is not unlike that of Fitz-Greene Halleck, but is by no means so good. Its clerky flourishes indicate a love of the beautiful with an undue strain- ing for effect — qualities which are distinctly tracea- ble in his poetic efforts. As many as five or six words are occasionally run together; and no man who writes thus will be noted for finish of style. Mr. Wetmore is sometimes very slovenly in his best compositions. pte I Proressor Ware, of Harvard, has written some His MS. is fully shown in the signature. It evinces very excellent poetry, but is chiefly known by his | the direct, unpretending strength and simplicity which ‘‘ Life of the Saviour,” ‘‘ Hints on Extemporaneous Preaching,” and other religious works. characterize the man, not less than his genera! com- positions. [Source scan page 46] etivt emperor | 7 3 Hl { ‘ | } j iti Hi iii ' ah Hi 46 GRAHAM’S MAGAZINE. Mila lL cabo The name of Wiiu1am B. O. Peazropy, like that of Mr. Wetmore, is known chiefly to the readers of our light literature, and much more familiarly to Northern than to Southern readers. He isa resident of Springfield, Mass. His occasional poems have been much admired. His chirography is what would be called beautiful Gah, Eres Sarcent, Esq., has acquired high reputation as the author of ‘‘ Velasco,” a tragedy full of beauty as a poem, but not adapted — perhaps not intended — for representation. He has written, besides, many very excellent poems—‘‘The Missing Ship,” for example, published in the ‘“ Knickerbocker ’’ — the “Night Storm at Sea’? — and, especially, a fine pro- duction entitled ‘‘Shells and Sea-Weeds.” One or two Theatrical Addresses from his pen are very by the ladies universally, and, perhaps, by a large majority of the bolder sex. Individually, we think it a miserable one —too careful, undecided, tapering, and effeminate. It is not unlike Mr. Paulding’s, but is more regular and more legible, with less force. We hold it as undeniable that no man of genius ever wrote such a hand. ita creditable tn their way — but the way itself is, as we have before said, execrable. As an editor, Mr. Sar- gent has also distinguished himself. He is a gentle- man of taste and high talent. His MS. is too much in the usual clerk style to be either vigorous, graceful, or easily read. It resem- bles Mr. Wetmore’s but has somewhat more force. The signature is better than the general hand, but conveys its idea very well. K- tlle The name of ‘“‘ Washington Allston,” the poet and painter, is one that has been long before the public. Of his paintings we have here nothing to say — except briefly, that the most noted of them are not to our taste. His poemsare not all of a high order of merit; and, in truth, the faults of his pencil and of his pen are identical. Yet every reader will remember his ** Spanish Maid’ with pleasure, and the “‘ Address to Great Britain,” first published in Coleridge’s ‘ Sybil- line Leaves,” and attributed to an English author, is a production of which Mr. Allston may be proud. His MS. notwithstanding an exceedingly simple and even boyish air, is one which we particularly admire. It is forcible, picturesque and legible, with- out ornament of any description. Each letter is formed with a thorough distinctness and individuality. Such a MS. indicates caution and precision, most unquestionably — but we say of it as we say of Mr. Peabody’s, (a very different MS.) that no man of original genius ever did or could habitually indite it under any circumstances whatever. The signature conveys the general hand with accuracy. Adht %) Sixal~ Mr. Aurrep B. Srreet has been long before the public as a poet. At as early an age as fifteen, some of his pieces were published by Mr. Bryant in the “Evening Post’?— among these was one of much merit, entitled a ‘‘ Winter Scene.’’ In the ‘‘ New- York Book” and in the collections of American poetry by Messieurs Keese and Bryant, will be found many excellent specimens of his maturer powers. ‘* The Willewemoc,” ‘* The Forest Tree,’’ ‘‘ The Indian’s Vigil,” ‘* The Lost Hunter’ and ‘‘ White Lake’ we prefer to any of his other productions which have met our eye. Mr. Street has fine taste, and a keen sense of the beautiful. He writes carefully, elabo- rately, and correctly. He has made Mr. Bryant his model, and in all Mr. Bryant’s good points would be nearly his equal, were it not for the sad and too per- Geptible stain of the imitation, That he has imitated at all—or rather that, in mature age, he has perse- vered in his imitations—is sufficient warrantry for placing him among the men of talent rather than among the men of genius. His MS. is full corroboration of this warrantry. It is a very pretty chirography, graceful, legible and neat. By most persons it would be called beautiful. The fact is, it is without fault— but its merits, like those of his poems, are chiefly negative. [Source scan page 47] AN APPENDIX OF AUTOGRAPHS. 47 LEV Mr. Ricuarp Penn Smiru, although, perhaps, better known in Philadelphia than elsewhere, has acquired much literary reputation. His chief works are “The Forsaken,” a novel; a pseudo-auto-bio- graphy called ‘“‘ Colonel Crocket’s Tour in Texas ;”’ the tragedy of ‘‘Caius Marius,” and two domestic dramas entitled “‘The Disowned,” and ‘‘The De- formed.” He has also published two volumes of mis- cellanies under the title of ‘‘ The Actress of Padua and other Tales,” besides occasional poetry. We are not sufficiently cognizant of any of these works to speak with decision respecting their merits. In a biography of Mr. Smith, however, very well written by his friend Mr. McMichael of this city, we are informed of ‘‘The Forsaken,” that ‘“‘a large edition of it was speedily exhausted” — of ‘‘The Actress of Padua,” that it ‘“‘had an extensive sale and was much com- Dr. OnrtIvER WENDEL Ho.tmes, of Boston, late Pro- fessor of Anatomy and Physiology at Dartmouth Col- lege, has written many productions of merit, and has been pronounced, by a very high authority, the best of the humorous poets of the day. mended” — of the * Tour in Texas,” that ‘‘ few books attained an equal popularity’’ — of ‘“‘ Caius Marius,” that “‘it has great capabilities for an acting play,” — of ‘‘ The Disowned” and “ The Deformed,” that they ‘‘ were performed at the London theatres, where they both made a favorable impression” —and of his poetry in general, ‘that it will be found superior to the average quality of that commodity.”’ “It is by his dramatic efforts,” says the biographer, “‘ that his merits as a poet must be determined, and judged by these he will be assigned a place in the foremost rank of American writers.” We have only to add that we have the highest respect for the judgment of Mr. MeMichael. Mr. Smith’s MS. is clear, graceful and legible, and