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Dcootcii to literature, Science, atti> 3.rt, t!)e Sous of ftemperaure, ©iiii irclloiosljip, itlasonrn, anil (General 3ntcl!igcnec.
VOLUME I.
A MOTHER'S GIFT.
Re member, love, who gave you this,
When other days shall come ;
When she, who had thy earliest kiss,
Sleeps in her narrow home :
Remember ’twas a mother guvo
The gift to one slic'd die to suvo.
That mother sought a gift of love,
The holiest for her sou ;
And from the gifts of God above,
She chose a goodly one ;
She chose for her beloved boy
The source of light, and life, and joy.
And bade him keep the gift, that when
The parting hour should come,
They might have hope to meet again
In an eternal home :
She said his faith in that would be
Sweet incense to her memory.
And should the scoffer in his pride,
Laugh that fond faith to scorn,
And bid him cast that pledge aside,
That he from youth has borne,
She bade him pause and ask his breast,
If he—or she had loved him best.
A mother’s blessing to her son
Goes with this holy thing,
The love which would retain the one,
Must to the other cliug
Remember —’tis no idle toy,
A mother’s gift, remember —boy.
Q El SIE
For A Friend of the Funiily.
FFSTUS.
In introducing the name of Festus at the head
of the present article, we do not propose entering
upon a minute or elaborate examination of the
merits of this wonderful, though somewhat ec
centric production. Indeed did we so desire, a
just regard for the fame of the gifted author, as
well as a becoming sense of our own unfitness for
the task would induce us to refrain from attempt
ing it. We are aware that it is the habit with
not a few of those who make pretensions to some
thing more than ordinary intelligence to look up
on the work of criticism as one of very easy ex
ecution. We trust, however, that we will be par
doned when we say that to treat this idea with the
utmost charity is at most to speak of it as a hasty
and ill-considered opinion, indiscriminate praise
or wholesale detraction is riot to be dignified with
the name of just and enlightened criticism. And
so saris the latter from being a common attain
ment, that without doubt it is the nicest arid most
difficult of arts, demanding peculiar qualifica
tions both natural and acquired, and the profound
and philosophic critic is at once one of the rarest
and ablest of intellectual characters. Not only
does his art require that lie should be versed in
the rules and principles of grammer and the gen
eral .structure of language—that he should be fa
miliar with the best models of elegant writing,
and accomplished in all the refinements of po-
that above and beyond this he
lh U .J oSSess lhat sagacious insight by means of
th lCh invoke to his aid a knowledge of
se su tie and ever-active laws which control
,i passions and affections of the human mind*.
, reductions of imagination and fancy are
Th! i^ SJ gned to impart pleasure and delight,
tin l^ei nselves to our innate concep
in tk ° • e sublime and beautiful, as displayed
e varied exhibitions of external nature, but
in the moral virtues and sensibili-
c j j° numan heart. Those immutable prin
fou taS - 6 Upon v'hich the art cr iticism is
tided are interwoven with the very texture of
teN na^u [ e and from an eminent part of our in
r f ctuai and s P ir itual being. They are, too, the
and standard of the critic’s judgment. They
y f aeas his guides in the analysis of composition,
c ? an “ft ever hope to become a skillful or a sue
a 8 U true and enlarged meaning of
whohae not clearly studied the workings
of our mental and moral constitution, and pene
trated within to the sources of feeling, the foun
tains of emotion, and the springs of sensibility
and pleasure in the soul.
We h ave been led by an earnest wish to correct
what we humbly conceive two be a popular error,
and will proceed at once to make a few cursory
observations upon the character of the work be
fore us. And we are forcibly struck, in the first
place, with the great diversity of opinion which
exists in regard to this performance. Amid this
conflict of sentiment we promptly take a friendly
position, and would advocate with all honest zeal
its claims to the warm admiration of the literary
world. In truth, so much fine talent has been
made to languish under the stroke of sweeping
condemnation, and so much high promiseto wither
under the blight of illiberal ridicule, that it is a
pleasing task to vindicate the reputation of a true
heir of genius from the unmeaning strictures of
the ignorant, or the bitter and vindictive tirades
of the malicious. The work under consideration
has been repeatedly subjected to all the scorching
fires of splenetic rage. It has been denounced by
religious enthusiasts as inculcating sentiments re
pugnant to scriptural teachings and the Christian
faith, couched in language of bold impiety and
daring irreverence—and it has been laughed at
bv the over-wise and over-witty as the wild dream
ings and incoherent reveries of some moon-struck
and brain-turned visionary. The author, since
%/
the book has been given to the candor of the
world, as we are informed, has been put by an af
flictive dispensation of Providence beyond the in
fluence of human praise or human detraction.—
The admiration of his friends can no longer elate
him, nor the disparagement of his enemies wound
him. The most terrible calamity that can befall
humanity has been visited upon that noble spirit,
and the author of a poem which is destined to
live while the literature of his country endures,
now lies apart from mankind and lost to himself
and to the world. That splendid intellect which
but recently towered in all the pride and dignity
of its majestic strength has suddenly bent beneath
the blast, and fallen prematurely into hopeless
ruin. Its pure and effulgent light has gone out
in gloom and darkness, and all those wonderful
powers which promised to mount the loftiest sum
mits of intellectual glory, have been curbed and
smitten in their high and elevated career. Such
alas! is the frailly of mortal man. But though
the author may never more he effected by the
kindness or the cruelty of literary judgments, it
behooves us by the most solemn and sacred con
siderations, as we should cherish the memory of
departed genius, faithfully to protect the monu
ments its labors had built up to perpetuate its
fume.
With regard to the first and grand objection
urged against Festus, namely, its irreligious or
rather unscripturaltone we have something to con
cede. We admit that the author’s hearty love for
humanity, and his strong hopes and confidence
in its ultimate restoration to its lost estate has per
haps taken too wfide a latitude. The drift of the
poem is perhaps too much tinctured with theper
nicious sentiments of Universalism. The idea
that all mankind have been preordained in the
everlasting councils of the Godhead to eternal
happiness and felicity clearly contravenes the
cardinal doctrines of revelation. It is indirect
and irreconcilable antagonism to the w hole Chris
tian system as it would, if established, subvert
the mighty scheme of redemption,. and dissipate
all those sublime reflections of infinite mercy and
unbounded love which are linked with the incom
prehensible agonies of the cross. bus far tue
work is objectionable and its tendency dangerous.
But we think much may be said in extenuation.
The author, so far as w’e have been able to per
ceive, betrays no fixed, settled purpose to implant
this as a conviction in the mind of the reader.—
Indeed we seriously doubt whether it be just to
infer, from the coloring which it lends to tne po-
SAVANNAH, GA„ THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1849.
em, that it was his own religious belief. At the
same time it must be admitted that the doctrine of
Universalism (how r ever we may repudiate it) if
not rendered repulsive by the special operation
of a heavenly influence upon the heart and mind,
renewing the one and illuminating the other, has
in it something peculiarly attractive and captiva
ting to the poetic imagination. To contemplate
the universal famil5 T of man as destined by divine
appointment to participate in the ineffable and
imperishable glories of eternity, is surely one of
those thrilling and transporting conceptions which
may well be supposed to overflow the imaginative
soul w r ith a tide of rapturous acting.
Bui viewing “Festus” simply in the light of a
literary production, we are disposed to consider
the poem as somewhat defective, first, in the ir
regular structure of the verse. In its perusal,
the delicacy of a cultivated ear is often pained
by the grossest departures from the rules of
measure, while it detects throughout a very gen
eral want of musical harmony. A more serious
defect, how r ever, than the harshness of versifica
tion is found, we think, in the second place, in
the disproportionate length of the poem to the
plan. Some of the subordinate characters are
mucio to nrmipy n prnminpnr-R uncalled for by
the general scope of the design. The main
bearing is too frequently suspended and the unity
of the poem consequently impaired, for the pur
pose of introducing elaborate speeches upon re
fined and abstract questions. The relation of the
parts to the whole, and the preservation of a pro
per symmetry is not sufficiently observed. Yet
the author has unquestionably displayed great
power in the vivid interest he has given to the
subsidiary incidents. He has most happily suc
ceeded in throwing over these under parts the
charms of a watching eloquence. By a combina
tion of vigorous thought, strong passion and in
tense expression, he is sometimes felt to move
with mighty and overwhelming pathos, all the
sensibilities and emotions of our nature. In his
love-passages the heart is softened and subdued
by touches of the most exquisite and melting ten
derness, while the fancy is led captive with images
of stainless purity, and pictures of unalloyed, un
clouded bliss.
But it is in the more spiritual part of the ma
chinery of the poem, that the genius of the author
is most strikingly exhibited. The introduction of
supernatural agents in a work of art is always a
hazardous experiment. Among the many poets
of no mean ability wffio have undertaken it, few 7
if any besides the great and* immortal Milton
have before at all succeded. Even the famous
Dante, justly celebrated as is his sublime muse,
has been considered in the judgment of some dis
tinguished critics, to have failed in the description
of both his celestial and infernal characters. —
Notwithstanding, however, the difficulties atten
ding such attempts, w r e are prepared to hazard
the opinion that the author of Festus, in the char
acter of that grand agent Lucifer, has given us
quite an original and masterly drawing. The
delineation of that fallen angel discovers great
discrimination and a penetrating sagacity. It is
an epitome of depraved and corrupted humanity.
It is a powerful and graphic representation of
that dark and selfish principle of our nature which
indicates our wretched alienation from virtue,
purity, sincerity, and truth. The artful cunning
and treacherous duplicity which characterize all
his intercourse wdth the intended victim of his
wiles, a counterpart of that vile hypocris}’
and base chicanery which unfortunately too many
of mankind constantly employ as means for the
accomplishment of their unworthy ends. .
In descriptive talent, the author of this work
has assuredly few if any superiors. The wild
wanderings of Lucifer and Festus through the
illimitable fields of space—their bold adventures
amid the remote provinces of the universe—the
ever shifting scenes of sublimity and beauty which
are unfolded to their view, and the gorgeous
splendors of celestial abodes which break upon
their vision, show an almost inexhaustible, fertility
and invention.
The character of Festus himself seems to be
full of contradictions. He appears to be always
fluctuating between opposite extremes. Love or
indifference, hope or despair, alternately possess
him. Now ambition spurs him on to high achieve
ments, and he resolves to strugle after a glorious
renown. And again, his enthusiasm subsides, he
becomes disgusted with every thing around him,
and heartily despises all the honors and emolu
ments of the world. This instability of purpose,
this restlessness of character, is the just descrip
tion of one ever acted upon by violent and con
flicting influences.
In this rapid survey of the poem before us, we
have perhaps omited to notice a few other artis
tical defects besides those already
There is enough, however, of true merit and real
excellence to redeem whatever trivial and in
considerable faults may have been overlooked.
On the whole, viewing Festus as an embodiment
of elevated thoughts and impassioned sentiments,
we hesitate not to pronounce it one of the noblest
efforts of poetic genius. Passages of unsurpassed
sublimity are strung like threads of gold through
out ilie entire tissue of tho. poem. The richest
gems of fancy glitter like diamond sparkles upon
almost every page. Trains of the most briliant
imagery shoot their luminous flashes over almost
every part of this wonderful production. In
short, Festus is the fruit of an intellect formed
upon the highest order,and fashioned in the noblest
mould. Through its mighty breathings it speaks
to us of an imagination whose affluence seems
w
incapable of exhaustion—of a power of language
which by its extraordinary energy, transfuses into
the burning line the deep tbrillings of a master
soul —of a knoweledge of man which uncovers
and lays bare all the bidden springs and motives
of human conduct —and above all, of a heart en
dowed with generous sensibilities—filled with tbs
warmest love for the whole species, and throbbing
with sublime and infinite aspirations.
Such a book is an invaluable acquisition not
only to the literature of England, but of the world.
Whatever may be its temporary fortunes, we
doubt not but that it is ultimately destined to take
the high place which its intrinsic merits eminent
ly ititle it, along by the side of the most acknowl
edged master-pieces of poetic composition. The
dwarfish tribe of sentimental scribblers, ever
ready to crush with their venomed shafts, arising
name, may seek as they will to cripple and distort
its inherent beauties, but long after these together
with their puny efforts shall have past away and
been forgotten, Festus will continue to be read, and
receive the just tribute of admiration at the bands
of that impartial posterity, whose judgments are
unnfFected by those narrow and jealous prejudices
which are too apt to sway the feelings and opin
ions of a contemporary age. „ L.
A Joke. —One of our imps, who had been suf
fering with the tooth-ache for a week, screwed up
his courage to ha\e it extracted, whereupon he
perpetrated the following:
“ However agonizing the thought, yet we must
part,” said the mouth to the tooth.
“ Good riddance and spare your feelings ; in
future I’ll have no more of your jaw!” was the
prompt reply of the tooth.
Encourage the Birds. —If robins and other small
birds are encouraged to build near the habitations
o.f man. they will prefer such locations to exten
sive forests and swamps, where hawks, and crows
and snakes are more apt to be their neighbors.
Curran’s ruling passion was a joke. In his
last illness, his physician observing in the morn
ing that he coughed with more difficulty,. be an
swered, “That is rather surprising, as I have
been practising all night*”
NUMBER 19