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NOTE.

Beneath our skies, Fancy neither sickens, nor dies. The fire of poetry is kindled by our storms. Amid our plains, on the banks of our waters, and on our mountains, dwells the spirit of inventive enthusiasm. These regions were not formed, only to echo to the voice of Europe; but from them shall yet sound a lyre which shall be the admiration of the world.

From the exhibitions of American talents, I indulge the warmest expectations. I behold, in imagination, the Newtons, the Miltons, and the Robertsons, of this new world; and I behold the sun of Genius pouring on our land his meridian beams.

In order to concentrate the force of her literature, the Genius of America points to a national university, so warmly recommended, and remembered in his will, by our deceased friend and father-such an establishment, far more than a pyramid that reached the clouds, would honour the name of Washington.

APPENDIX,

CONTAINING

ILLUSTRATIONS OF GENIUS.

AT the commencement of the preceding poem, it is asserted that Genius cannot easily be defined; that it can be best discovered by its effects: as a view of the beams of the sun, and of the headlong course of a torrent, will give us a fuller conception of them, than the most accurate description. I had designed, in a note, to have given some illustrations of Genius from authors. But as this design would be too extensive for the limits of a note, I have here attached these illustrations to the poem in an Appendix. If I am not deceived they will answer two purposes---They will, in some measure, discover whether my decision on the authors mentioned in the poem be just, and they will discover

APPENDIX.

Genius in a manner which cannot be defined. On the passages which are produced I shall venture only a few remarks, and leave them to the discernment of the reader. The first instances I shall offer, are taken from the sublimest of all writings, the sacred scriptures. Among the inspired penmen, Isaiah, and the author of the book of Job, hold the first-and David and some of the lesser prophets, the secondary rank on the scale of sublimity. It is to be observed, that the earliest manner of writing was very figurative. It held representations to the view significant and striking. As society advances in refinement, this mode of expression gives way to more polished terms, but less bold and energetic. Hence the fervour of poetry decreases, as refinement and learning increase. ---Nature loses her simplicity and assumes the vestment of Art. Oftentimes, amidst comparative darkness and ignorance, the sublimest strains of poetry are heard, which a more polished age would imitate in vain. The voice of hardy Genius is not the stream which babbles, but it is the torrent that roars. It is not the whisper of the breeze, but it is the loud swell of the storm. It falls not like the rod of down, but like the mace of the warrior.

APPENDIX.

Plainness of language should always be the companion of truth; but this plainness is perfectly consistent with every characteristic of taste, and with figurative expression. Indeed one pertinent and figurative allusion will oftentimes convey more instruction, and will more powerfully impress the mind, than pages of reasoning. The wide scene of Nature, should not be spread before us in vain:-but thence we should draw applicable and judicious illustrations. These remarks will, in some degree, apply to the Hebrew poetry. There is something in those writings, to the observation of true taste, unspeakably simple, tender and sublime. Their figures are innumerable, bold and energetic. They drew them from two sources---the object of Nature, and the practice of common life.* The former is the grandest, the latter, perhaps, was most universally intelligible.

In the sacred scriptures we meet examples of every excellence and stile of writing. All the boldest attempts of human Genius are eclipsed by comparison with them. From the loud and thrilling harp of Isaiah, of David, of Jeremiah, and of Job have proceeded strains which the most polished age of Greece, or of Rome would have imitated

* 'See Lowth's admirable Prelections on Hebrew poetry.

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