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frailty of our fallen nature, however, that there are few, if any, who can act up to these principles. Suppose even our friend, the Reviewer, had of fended some large party in these United States, and had undergone the process of tarring and feathering and roasting, in consequenee, at the hands of a portion of that party in South Carolina, we put

haps the Reviewer is also a military man, in which taught that when a man smites us on one cheek, case we must beg his pardon for not having called | we ought to turn to him the other also. Such is the him a General Reviewer. Be that as it may, we contend, that the business of the biographer is merely to trace the events of an individual's life, and to account for his actions, not upon general principles, but as explained by his personal idiosyncrasies and the peculiar circumstances of family, fortune, &c., in which he may have been placed. The writers of Biographies, Journals, Traditional it to himself, whether he would receive a deputaNarratives, &c., are merely the witnesses giving tion if another portion of that same party should evidence on the subject of history. They all tell, come to him, even at so great a distance from the and are entitled to tell, their own stories in their place of his brutal bodily punishment as Maine or own way. That in their accounts of the same Vermont, with any thing like equanimity or moderatransactions they should be often at variance with tion? We would venture to say, he would burst one another is not only natural, but a proof of their on them with such a storm of indgnation and bithonesty and sincerity and the absence of all col- terness, as, judging from the excessive irritability lusion. It is the part of the historian, on the other exhibited in this Review, would make poor Brown's hand, to examine and sift all this evidence, and, bitterness appear by comparison the extreme of like a skilful judge summing up, to lay before the gentleness and forbearance. public, who are his jury, what may appear to him Pages 330 and 331 are occupied chiefly with atto be a true statement of facts, divested of the col-tempts to prove that we have garbled Drayton and orings which the peculiar prejudices and passions Tennent's accounts of the meetings with Fletchall, of the various witnesses may have given them. He the Cunninghams and Brown. We regret that has no right to assume this important office, until after having given the Reviewer's arguments our he has thoroughly examined all the evidence on very best consideration, we are constrained to say both sides of every question that the utmost re- that we are only corroborated in those very sentisearch has enabled him to procure. It might, there-ments that have excited his displeasure. We confore, for aught we know, be perfectly unjustifia- tinue to think that it was unclerical in the Reverble in an Historian not to be aware that there was end Mr. Tennent to surprise any man into an inonly one Captain Butler in South Carolina, and that discreet promise, and much more so, to boast of it it was not necessary to designate him by the indeffi- afterwards :—we still think that Brown's "bitternite article, as we have done in our memoir of the ness and violence" ought not, under the circumCunninghams, as a Capt. Butler. It might also be stances, to have been characterized as intolerable, unpardonable in him not to know that the partisan, and we must say that Drayton's assertion, that he Major Caldwell, whom the Reviewer, in his Irish way, calls the ancestor of John C. Calhoun, was the uncle, by the mother's side, of that very distinguished gentleman. But surely it will not be contended, that the historian of a single life must search the records of a country to find out whether any person, whose name he may have occasion to mention, is actually a duly installed Captain, Colonel, or General; much less will it be expected that he is to ferret out all the connexions and the collateral branches of his family. It is sufficient that the designation should be clear enough not to mislead the reader as to the identity of the person intended. But this barefaced method of pretending to prove In page 329 the Reviewer says, "our biogra- the truth of his fictitious imputations seems to be pher jumbles several things together which have a favorite one with the Reviewer. At the end of no necessary connection," and in proof of this al- page 335 he says, "The desire here shown to make legation he instances the case of Col. Brown. He Cunningham appear a hero, makes our Biographer cannot conceive why this gentleman, because he forget his own argument, which insists that it was was tarred and feathered by the patriots of Geor- the dread and suffering of violence alone, that put gia, should feel any indignation against the same and kept him in hostility to the patriots. Origiparty in the neighboring State of South Carolina.nally, as we have seen, he desired nothing better To bear malice against any one, even for having than neutrality." been tarred and feathered and roasted before a slow Unless our readers have it in their power to exfire, we do acknowledge to be contrary to the prin- amine for themselves the memoir of the Cunningciples of the Christian religion, whereby we are 'hams referred to, we fear they will hardly believe

almost lost his caution" when, as the climax of many other provocations, he was told by Brown that "he did not mean well to the king, and that his professions were but a cloak," seems still to us to be the ne plus ultra of impudence and hypocrisy. And we cannot see that the introduction by the Reviewer of those parts of Drayton's and Tennent's narratives, which we had omitted as not of the least importance to the full meaning of the passages quoted, in any degree affects the interpretation we had put on them. But this we leave to the judgment of our readers.

us when we assure them, that in the whole of that stand why we differ so entirely on the subject of memoir we have never even once insinuated that the Cunninghams of South Carolina. With us it was the "dread" or "suffering of violence" that" names and dates" are something in history, and put or kept Cunningham in hostility to "the patri- they will continue to be so until the "Yemassee" ots." And much less is he ever said to have de- and "Guy Rivers" become more authentic than the sired to remain neutral. On the contrary, we dis-" Conquest of Mexico," and until the name of W. tinctly mentioned, on page 623 of our volume, that, Gilmore Simms, as an historian, outshines that of "when the assembly in July, 1775, passed a vote William Prescott.

in commendation of Massachusetts, and also a non The Reviewer next comes to the Memoir of importation act, Robert Cunningham was opposed William Cunningham, and as it is but lately that to both, and afterwards, when the association act these notices have become known to us, we have was passed, he openly expressed his disapprobation not had time sufficient to reexamine our histories of it in the strongest terms."

and to collect our proofs, which we expect to do, however, in season for the next number. That we shall be able to substantiate every material fact in question, we have not a shadow of doubt.

This shows a determination to be independent, but surely no desire to remain neutral; and it is consequently in firm resistance to what he conceived to be arbitrary and tyranical acts on the part Our Reviewer is kind enough to say in page 514, of the assembly, that he is first found in direct hos- that he will imitate our example and throw the Retility to "the patriots." Revolution is, after all, view of this case "into the form also of Biograonly successful rebellion, and we are thoroughly phy," to which we have not the slightest objection, convinced, that Robert Cunningham conscienti- and when placed side by side, let the impartial ously believed that he should best do his duty to his God and to his country by taking the side he did in a quarrel, with respect to which, it would have appeared, to a man of his temperament, crimigal to have remained neutral.

The Reviewer has evidently either wantonly or ignorantly confounded neutrality with independence. With a similar perversity or confusion of ideas, he will have it in page 391 of the Review, that we compared the retreat of Patrick Cunningham and his small body of men in the face of ten times his number, with the retreat of Xenophon and the ten thousand. Now we never thought of making such a comparison ourselves, and we cannot imagine any thing but the hudge-podge character of his intellect that could have suggested it to the Reviewer. In page 397, he quarrels with us for having called Simms, (the author of Yemassee, &c.) a WHIG HISTORIAN. Here we are willing to go further than the Reviewer, and to regret that we quoted him as an historian at all. Since we unfortunately did so, we have seen his "Views and Reviews"where in pp. 23 and 24 we find him saying, "The truth is, the chief value of history consists in its proper employment for the purposes of art," and "Reasoning of what should have been from what is before us, we gather the true from the probable. Dates and names which, with the mere chronologists are every thing, with us are nothing." And again, "Hence it is the artist only who is the true historian."

reader choose for himself the one which seems most
to bear the stamp of authenticity-that which ad-
heres most strictly to "names and dates," even
though it may entirely reject the fanciful and mere-
tricious ornaments of the artist, who, in the lan-
guage of the author of the History of South Caro-
lina, is "the only true historian.”
New York, Dec. 15, 1846.

My Dear Mr. Minor.

RICHMOND, Nov. 24th., 1846.

In one of our recent conversations, (a conversation that was prolonged almost to the "small hours," without loosing its interest,) the sympathies of wedded life were adverted to, and the enclosed poem spoken of, in connection with the subject. In looking over some manuscripts of by-gone years, I have put my hand upon it, and send it to you with the hope that you will value it as I do. It has, I believe, been published, but I know not when or where.

It is most true, that there is a romance of early trust and love, which though bright and beautiful in its morning hour, withers under the "burden and heat of the day." When called to meet the cares, perplexities and sober realities of every day life, it frequently fades from the green soil of the heart, leaving only the seared growth of ordinary respect. Is it not also true, that there is a sentiment of holy affection, which, although springing from earth, is nourished by Heaven, which, from its union to the "Tree of Life," will live on and flourish in perennial verdure, even though watered by tears and cultivated only amidst earthly cares and

Such, my dear friend, is the spirit of the following Lines.
Very truly yours,

Really if this Mr. Simms, whom we so inad-sorrows. vertently introduced, be a favorable specimen of those historians of the South so much lauded in the Review; and if we are to conclude, therefore, that the opinions on the subject of history, which we have just quoted, are endorsed by the Reviewer, we cannot be surprised at the eccentricities we have been obliged to notice, and we can readily under

LETTER TO A WIFE.

A recent sight, my dearest Anne,
Engaged mine eye and heart,

M.

And I, the scene and moral too

Would now to thee impart :

A truth was never deemed the worse, Express'd in figure or in verse.

'Twas in my lovely garden, where I late and early rove,

In lonely walk, or happier still,

Indulged with her I love,

And where to thought or talk resigned, A part of Eden yet I find.

'Twas there two plants of tender form Upgrowing I surveyed;

Both conscious of their weakness seemed,
And seemed to ask for aid-

I marked with anxious watch their bent
And judged an union their intent.

And so it proved-for soon they clasp'd,
And curling round and round,
Looked fearful lest they each should lose

The helper each had found;
But, coupled soon, they firmness gained,
And reached a height not else attained.

But bending now as weightier grown They feel their junction weak; And something both may rest upon, They now together seek;

A tree at hand, their wishes drew, And on this prop they hung and grew.

But as I stood, and while I gazed, A voice mine ear addressed; "All nature is a book, and he

Who reads is wise and blessed : No humble monitor disdain, Nor let a trifle preach in vain.

"If 'twas not good for man to live
In Paradise alone;

Two in a desert's weary wilds
Are better far than one:
Mutual their wants and wishes too,
They help, conjoined, each other through.

"Thus thou and thy dear partner both
In pleasant bands entwined,
Not bound by others—but attached—
By sympathy inclined;
Aspiring upward to the skies,
Should aid each other as you rise.

"Nor think each other help enough,

Though you the gift esteem, But mindful of the Tree of Life,

And still embracing Him, On Him, your sure, Almighty Friend, Your blended hopes and fears suspend."

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Not many years ago, the good people of the North were astonished at the news of a literary periodical being published in the South. So long had they done all our printing, and supplied us with periodicals, that they thought we were totally unable to help ourselves. That we should think of publishing a literary magazine, seemed to them really a Quixotic attempt, and a complete failure must be the inevitable result. These calculations proved nugatory and untrue. They knew nothing of the spirit of the South, that spirit, which, once enlisted in a praise-worthy cause, knows naught save sucWe proved ourselves possessed, not only of the talents and abilities necessary for such an undertaking, but also of that which was denied us— the care and diligence suited to the enterprise.

cess.

But we have not been content with one periodical, though this one stands almost unrivalled by any in the land. Not long since, the Southern Review, once so justly pre-eminent, was revived; and from the outset has maintained a standing almost unparalleled in our literary annals. To these fruits of Southern Literary enterprise, might be added others equally as honorable; but here is one which is an Abel-offering compared with them all. "Tell it not in Gath; publish it not in the streets of Ascalon," that in the backwoods of civilization, where are haunts of wild beasts and wilder men, that a poem of four cantos, full grown, has been ushered into existence!! Who will credit the tale? Let no one say Munchausen has risen from the dead and resumed his wonted occupation! We speak strange things, but true. Here is a poem written by an Alabamian, and printed in Alabama-hear, ye Harper & Brothers; hear, Carey and Hart! Yes, actually printed in Alabama !

Well may we boast the dawn of a new era, well

"Seen a handsome man at last."

be proud of our State and people. A few years It is perhaps as well to remark here, that our poet ago, who would have believed that the wild-woods is a woman-hater; he has doubtless been slighted of Alabama would echo to the sound of Orpheus' harp, or prove a dallying spot for the Muses. Par- some way, and will believe no good can come out nassus has lost one bright jewel, and Perry county will yet be remembered by posterity.

As two of our sons had recently obtained such high success in two different walks of literature, I had hoped that the next aspirant would be a Poet. But, heaven forbid, we should be content with such

of Nazareth

Such is the man Hanson finds beside the lovely Gertru. Well might he fear lest

"Such a man might prove, His rival in the maiden's love."

“mincing poetry,” as the "Citizen of Perry" sends Jealousy, that demon which requires the sacrifice

forth. His "Gertru" can neither rival nor even
share the fame of "Capt. Simon Suggs," or
"On-
slow." But not to arrogate any extraordinary skill
in discerning blemishes, or superior taste in dis-
crimination, we will take a hasty sketch of the
poem.

The first Canto is entitled "The Duel." Gertru is engaged to Hanson, a fair and comely youth,

"Whose love the fair Gertru had won,
And in return had pledged her hand
To him in matrimonial band. "

of the best feelings of the heart, had possession of
his mind, and under its malign influence

"The maid was changed; it seemed to him
Her look was more reserved and grim."

The last epithet is singularly rich and expressive.
Hanson could find but little pleasure or entertain-
ment in such company, and he leaves them mad
and perplexed.
He retires to his room and tries
in vain to sleep, "but sleep poured not her balmy
dew" upon his eyes. Restless he rolls, mad with
everybody, and the female sex in particular. Find-

66

With regard to the fine poetical effect of the wording it impossible to sleep, no resort was left him, “matrimonial," there should be, it seems to us, but or the poet, but to play the lover ;-off he goes and one opinion. Hanson is the first character intro-" gazes at the stars," and by a moonlight ramble duced, and he appears soliloquising, the result of which is, that he determines on a visit to his destined bride

"He came he joined his lady fair,
When lo! he met another there!"

He was not in the habit of finding any one with Gertru, and when he sees a fine, handsome fellow paying his attentions, he is "thunder-struck and armazed." Guy Manning is the stranger's name, who, if what the poet says is true, was a paragon

strives

"To dissipate in midnight air,

His doubts and fears of lady fair."

Jealousy and suspicion having thus found a home in his breast, Hanson refrains from visiting Gertru, and watches the actions of Guy Manning, the fa

vored suitor,

"And all he sees, and all he hears,
Serve to increase his doubts and fears."

of a man. It was only necessary for a lady to Becoming fearful he was giving his rival too good see him, and in spite of bars or vows, her heart an opportunity to press his suit, he determines to was gone. Hanson seems to have been a jealous visit Gertru and urge her to appoint the day for churl, and was unwilling his “lady fair" should their marriage. So going one lovely moonlight receive attention from any one save his humble night, he hears Gertru singing a song he well self. But, it also seems he had good grounds of might construe as an ill omen. We give the song jealousy. Guy Manning was no ordinary man. in full, as it will speak for itself, and as less infeFrom the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, rior than most parts of the poem. each and all found grace in woman's eyes. Nor did his gallant conquests stop with the fair girls, who strove to catch this rich prize, but alas! alas! for woman's inconstancy ! Not only does our poet, a sour old bachelor, perhaps, place no reliance in the plighted vow, but even those ratified and sealed before the altar, lose their force. "Many a married lady said," were her husband dead,

"She'd strive with all a widow's grace
To make the stranger fill his place."

He gives the old maids a broadside, and, hear ye
ladies of a "doubtful age!" even makes you say
you have

I.

"In Nature's wide and varied realm,
The leading law is change,
Shall woman then the statute whelm?
The harmony derange?

II.

"The seasons come, the seasons go,
The heat succeeds to cold;
Thus time is varied here below,
Thus waning years are rolled.

III.

"The rivers wear their shores away,
And shift their sightless bed!

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How graphic! how romantic, and, we are almost tempted to say, how antic! Had there been a poetical drop in the veins of the Citizen of Perry," "here's the place and here's the spot" in which he should have let it out. Hanson is by this wound reduced very near to death, and the surgeons, of course, rush up to assist him, and the poet without a smile, but in sober earnest, tells us

"They picked the bullet from the wound-
The orifice securely bound."

Hanson's mother is frantic with grief. How easily are all our sympathies excited when a mother's love is mentioned: 'tis a cord by which every heart can be lead. The mother, that being on whose sainted breast we have been taught precepts that indeed make the man-she, to whom all is due, and to whom should all be paid, our obligations would not be cancelled. This inspiring theme seems to have raised the poet to the following lofty strain:

"Feelings there are which life exalt
And veil full many a human fault;
And to the bright, angelic throng,
Well does a mother's love belong.
Worn by no care, and proof to toil,

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"The Elopement," is the caption of the second canto. We will pass slightly through it. 'Tis useless to show how Manning risks all for "bonny bride." Gertru's father had refused his assent to the union, preferring Hanson for his son-in-law; and fearful his daughter might elope, had confined her to the house, and watched her every movement with a dragon's eye. But love has wings. Gertru evades her father's eye, escapes from her room, and goes on her way rejoicing to

"The place beneath a hawthorn tall,
That flourished near the garden wall."

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66

Boss," as he is poetically called. As the maid, having escaped from the house without awaking her father, was tripping lightly along to the place of rendezvous,

"The skulking dog full at her sprung."

Here was a dilemma for a bashful girl. A large mastiff with "jaws extended," rushing at her; a scream would alarm her father;-her presence of mind protects her. The following lines are unsurpassed by anything Byron or Scott ever wrote.

"Her fingers snapped-he knew her well,
And down his strutting bristles fell,

And down his curling tail he hung,

Nor growl, nor bark escaped his tongue;

And wiggling on seemed to beseech

His mistress to forgive the breach."

The italicising is our own. Such poetry as this

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