206

Original.

THE SPIRIT OF POETRY.

BY FRANCES S. OSGOOD.

How can they call it sad
And lone, the Poet's lot?
A spirit is with him every where,
Altho' they see her not.

She walks in white attire,
With a free and buoyant grace,
Her dark curls drooping carelessly,
Around her glowing face.

She guides him where the waves,
Their wondrous music, pour,
From Ocean's ever-throbbing heart,
Upon the echoing shore.

She holds beside his ear

A curved and rose-lipped shell,
Within whose wreathed labyrinth,
Melodious murmurs swell;
And she tells of an ocean-fay,-
A child with strange, soft eyes,

Who mourns for ever her lost, lost home,
As sad in the shell she lies.

She leads to the still, deep woods,
Where startled by the breeze,

In those majestic solitudes,

Slow wake the giant trees,

And bids him note how rich

The ground beneath his tread,

With the crackling, slippery, bright-hued leaves, Which autumn's hand has shed.

She shows the emerald moss,

Where morn-dew lingers yet

In small and sculptured chalices,
For fairy revels set.

At day-dawn on the hills,

They watch the morning bright

Spring from her far-off couch and shake

At noon they seek the shade,
In still and green retreat,

Where fitful gleams of sunshine glance,

The whispering wave to meet.
She gathers a graceful flower,*
Like a car in shape, and lo!

A leaf, by her delicate finger pressed,
Two azure doves doth show;

And she calls on the elfin-queen,
The Venus of fairy land,

To mount the phaton's tiny seat,
And glide from her outspread hand!
But when with splendor crowned,
Day's glorious angel turns,
With his last loveliest smile to earth,
While Heaven around him burns,

Venus' car, or Monk's hood.

When ever-shifting clouds,

That throng his radiant way,
Receive the regal wealth he leaves,
And don his rich array,

Oh! then is the poet's hour,
His golden hour of rest!
Reclining on some sunny slope,
He feels serenely blest:
And the spirit folds her wings,
Beside him on the grass,

And traces for him in the clouds
Fair pictures as they pass!
That gorgeous pageant goes,
And next, a holier scene !-

Pure Night puts on her jewelry,

And comes-a worshipped queen!
And the spirit's plumes unfurl,
And wave in the starlit air,

And her blue eyes flash thro' the floating curl,
For she sees her heaven-home there!
She warbles a wild, sweet lay,
And the minstrel joys to see,

Thro' the luminous depths of ether blue,
The bloom of an amaranth tree,—
The ripple of rolling waves,
And a fair bird's plume of fire,
And the far, faint smile of angel-eyes,
And the light of a seraph's lyre!
Why should they call it sad
And lone-the poet's lot,

His muse is with him everywhere,
Altho' they know her not.

I sadden when I think of life,

Its turmoil, and its care;

And grieve, how doth my spirit grieve?
That I must linger here.

I am weary of the selfish world,
Of all its vaunted ties;

And languish like a prison'd lark,
To soar up to the skies.

I've seen the utter worthlessness,
Of love and all its joy;

And found the dreams that lured me on,
Were but a tinsel'd toy.

Oh! would my soul were as a bird,
In some sweet summer even;
When earth was fairest, I would flee
In rapture up to Heaven.

Philadelphia, June, 1840.

Original.

HENRY B. HIRST.

THE SPIRIT'S PRAYER.

LINES ADDRESSED TO A VERY DEAR FRIEND ON THE EVE OF HER MARRIAGE.

BY MISS A. D. WOODBRIDGE.

Ar this hour, when thought and feeling, Linger fondly round thy shrine; Words would fain attempt revealing,

What my spirit asks for thine.

'Tis that Peace, e'en now may bless thee,
With her soft, her heav'nly tone,
Love, and Hope, and Joy caress thee,
Claiming thee, as all their own;

That thy spirit's inmost altar,
May be cheer'd by Faith's pure ray,
And its light, nor fade or falter,
'Till 'tis lost in perfect day.

'Tis that thou be true to Heaven,
To thyself to one, to all;
That while much to thee is given,
Thou may'st bless the All in All.

LITERARY REVIEW.

GREYSLAER; a romance of the Mohawk: Harper & Brothers. The inflated encomiums lavished upon this work, by the press generally, will, in all probability, lead a vast majority of the reading community to suppose, that it is the greatest production ever issued from the press, either in Europe or America. The unanimity with which praise has been bestowed upon Mr. Charles F. Hoffman's work proves conclusively, that not one out of every hundred of the reviewers ever perused "Greyslaer; a romance of the Mohawk," for the purpose of forming an impartial opinion of its merits. One sapient reviewer pronounces it superior to any work of Bulwer or James'-another, that the style is equal to that of Scott'swhile a third, classes the author with Irving and Cooper. We are sorry to find our city editors, so willing to sanction opinions so foreign to those, which they would themselves have arrived at, had they devoted one hour to the duty of the critic, before promulgating impressions so utterly at variance with common sense and honest intentions. It is not our desire, or if it was, we have not the space to indulge in an elaborate review of "Greyslaer; a romance of the Mohawk." We commenced the perusal of it, with high expectations of a rich treat-but, how sadly we were doomed to be disappointed, will be inferred from our remarks above.

THE QUIET HUSBAND: Carey & Hart.-Miss Ellen Pickering, the successful author of the "Fright," "Nan Darrell," etc., has, in the present work, fully equalled her former efforts. -G. & C. Carvill.

MORAL MANAGEMENT OF INFANCY: Carey & Hart.-Many excellent treatises on the moral management of children already exist; yet, few of them are calculated to supply parents with the kind of information, which, in their circumstances, is especially required. Most of the works hitherto published, touch briefly upon the general management of early childhood, merely as preliminary to an exposition of its diseases-and their perusal by non-professional individuals not unfrequently leads to a dangerous tampering with the lives of the young. In the work before us, the subject is admirably treated and we warmly commend it to parents.-G. & C. Carvill.

LIFE AND TRAVELS OF MUNGO PARK: Harper & Brothers. Few subjects have excited a more lively interest among the curious and the learned, than the geographical problem with regard to the termination of the Niger. This question was at length put at rest by the successful expedition of the Landers, but not until after more than half a century of fruitless effort and speculation, during which many valuable lives had been sacrificed in attempting to trace to its outlet the course of this mysterious river. Among those who had generously devoted themselves to this perilous enterprise, none was more distinguished than Mungo Park; whose untimely fate, after having triumphed over the most appalling difficulties, excited the deepest commiseration and regret. Besides a minute and copious narration of the two expeditions of this celebrated traveller, the volume here offered to the public contains a succinct and interesting account of the labors of subsequent adventurers in the same field, bringing down the subject of African discovery to the most recent period.

HISTORY OF THE FINE ARTS: Harper & Brothers.-This work is a continuation of the "Family Library," and embraces a view of the rise, progress and influence of the arts among different nations-ancient and modern-with notices of the character and works of many celebrated artists. The cultivation of the Fine Arts, and a general dissemination of a taste for such liberal pursuits, are of the highest importance in a national point of view, for they have a powerful tendency to elevate the standard of intellect, and consequently morals, and form one of those mighty levers which raise nations as well as individuals to the highest point in the scale of civilization. In every age and in every country the cultivation of the Fine Arts has been invariably attended with a corresponding improvement in the social, moral, and intellectual character of the people; and our country is now, happily, the recipient of all the refinements of antiquity, embellished with the beauties

of modern civilization. When the venerable Bishop Berkely, in view of the rapid settlement of our country, sung,

"Westward the star of Empire takes its way,"

he might with propriety have added, that such also was the direction of art, science, and literature, not only as applied to us, but to the people of antiquity. As the sun first shed its beams upon the eastern world, so also did the first ray of intelligence break forth in the east, and with the full splendor of its luminaries, art, science, and literature, coursed westward, infusing life and vigor into society, until Europe and America have become radiant with light. As we are the last and most favored of these recipients, gratitude, self-love, and patriotism should prompt us to give these muses a cordial reception, and foster them with the greatest care 'till they shall erect a superstructure of eternal honor to the American name, more pleasing, more refined, more influential than that of classic Greece. To do this, the popular taste must be favorable, and to create and improve the taste for this object, it is necessary by facts to produce a conviction that to the Fine Arts all civilized nations are greatly indebted for their advancement in political and social greatness.

THEATRICALS.

On the subject of city theatricals, we have nothing very interesting to record this month. The Park re-opens on the tenth instant, with Fanny Elssler, who, having returned from her southern tour of triumph, commences an engagement for three weeks, and then goes to Boston. She will be succeeded by Mr. Power, the truly inimitable Irish actor, and perhaps the most popular of all the European stars that have occasionally illumined our theatrical hemisphere. Mr. Buckstone, an actor of considerable reputation, and one of the most successful of modern dramatists, is also engaged, and will play alternate nights with Power. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are, we understand, under contract with Mr. Simpson, and will appear early in the month of October.

BOWERY.-The aquatic experiment of Mr. Hamblin, we regret to say, has not met with the success to which its merits really entitle it. This comparative failure is to be attributed solely to the very unattractive drama upon which the nautical spectacle was engrafted. Imagine, reader, an audience anxiously anticipating a performance, the sole attraction of the evening, and to arrive at which, it is necessary for them to sit and yawn two full hours, through a dull and uninteresting affair, all talk and no dramatic incident, until, at length, when patience is completely exhausted, and the house has become indifferent to all that was to follow, the great feature of the evening's entertainment is produced. Under such circumstances, some may naturally imagine what the result would be. Instead of the cheers and shouts for which this theatre has long been renowned, and which the novelty and beauty of the exhibition really deserved, the applause seemed more like satisfaction expressed at the termination of an irksome task, than gratification at a pleasant entertainment. After "dragging its slow length along " through fourteen representations, "the Pirate's Signal on the bridge of death" was withdrawn to make way for "a new and original piece," entitled, "The Yankees in China." This, like the preceding piece, proved to be a dead failure. Its plot, if a farrago of absurdities can be so denominated, is founded on the present quarrel between the British and Chinese. The characters, with the exception of a Yankee adventurer, are feebly drawn, and the dialogue scarcely reaches mediocrity. The audience, instead of sitting through two long acts, are compelled to endure four short ones, whilst the dénouement is far less effective than that of "the Pirate's Signal." The fertile imagination of the manager, however, never fails him in emergent cases, and we understand he has a new piece nearly ready for representation. If Mr. Hamblin cannot command success, at least, he strives to deserve it.

THEATRICALS IN GENERAL deserve a passing notice.-Fanny Elssler's engagements at Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore, have been exceedingly profitable. It is said she has realized, by them, fifteen thousand dollars.

Mr. and Miss Vandenhoff have also been very successful in their eastern tour. They have been playing to crowded houses, at St. John's, in the British province of New Brunswick. Madame Le Compte, with her corps de ballet have also made the same tour and with the like success.

Mrs. Fitzwilliam has returned from the flying visit to the same place with a purse well filled. She has also been playing an engagement at Niblo's Garden with her accustomed success. We understand, she sailed for England in the British Queen, but intends returning to America in the course of the next

season.

The Seguins, with Latham and Horncastle, are treating the play-goers of Montreal and Quebec, with a touch of their quality.

Philadelphia is to have its share, or rather more than its share of the drama the ensuing season. Not less than four theatres are to be opened there during the next month. How many will continue open, time and circumstances must determine.

CHATHAM. This theatre is indebted to the enterprise and liberality of its manager for the uncommon success attending its performances. Booth, who, with all all his eccentricities, may justly rank amongst the most talented actors of the age, has been playing his round of characters, ably sustained by Mr. Scott and Mr. and Mrs. Proctor, to crowded houses and delighted audiences.

B. B. THATCHER.-It is with feelings of the deepest regret, that we record the death, of our old and esteemed correspondent, B. B. Thatcher. He died at Brooklin, near Boston, on the 14th of July, in the thirty-first year of his age. We copy the following brief notice, from the Mercantile Journal, of that city. "Mr. Thatcher is well known in this country and in Europe, for his scientific and literary attainments-and wherever known, has been respected and loved for his kind disposition and his high moral qualities, as well as for the great variety of knowledge of which he was master-and the announcement of his death will carry sadness to many a heart. He was educated to the profession of the law-but his great aim through life appears to have been to acquire knowledge, and to diffuse it abroad for the purpose of enlightening, elevating, and improving the human race. For several years past he has devoted himself exclusively to literary pursuits-and if his career, by a wise Providence, had not been abridged, he would have been surpassed by few of his countrymen in rendering true service to his country--and would have acquired a fame to endure for ages. Many of his writings are before the worldthey bear the stamp of worth, and have been read with much interest in this country and in Europe-and he has, doubtless, left many important manuscripts, which it is to be hoped, his friends will give the public at some future day.

He was conscious of the approach of death, which at last came upon him suddenly-but he met the grim king of terrors like a Christian philosopher-and his last moments were soothed by the benignant spirit of religion. The death of B. B. Thatcher has left a blank in society that will not be easily filled."

NIBLO'S GARDEN.-We regret to state that this beautiful retreat is not as liberally supported this season, as the apparent enterprise of the proprietor deserves. On the evening of the 4th of July, compared with former occasions, the garden was literally deserted. Mr. Niblo should look well to the respectability of his company, and make every exertion to exclude improper persons from the garden. It is a stain upon his management and a disgrace to the city, that persons of a questionable character, should be admitted, and allowed to mingle, indiscriminately, with those who visit his garden for amusement and recreation. Probably a knowledge of this factwhich has become universally known-influence ladies, in a great degree, from resorting, this season, to Niblo's Garden. The Ravels continue their surprising performances on alternate nights, while the Vaudeville company fill up the others.