The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 3, November, 1834Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 3, November, 1834
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
In a word, the south may be assured, that on this point, New England is
sound: at least the three states which I have visited. Colonization is
popular here--with those, I mean, who know or reflect at all about it.
The majority (like the majority with us,) are without either knowledge
or thought on the subject. The abolitionists find fault with
colonization, because, say they, its aim is to postpone or prevent
emancipation. Our southern _illuminati_ oppose it, on the ground that
it _favors_ emancipation! Do not these inconsistent objections
neutralize each other, like opposite quantities in Algebra, or opposite
simples in Chemistry?
N. P. WILLIS.
We extract the subjoined article from the _Norfolk Beacon_, believing
that it will be both new and interesting to most of our readers. That
paper has recently passed into the hands of Mr. Hugh Blair Grigsby, a
gentleman of fine education and literary taste; and as he has declared
himself a neutral in politics, we have a right to expect that the
Beacon will be frequently rich in other matter interesting to the
general reader. The eulogy upon Willis, or rather his vindication from
those ill natured aspersions, which are always cast upon aspiring
genius,--is honorable to the feelings of early friendship which
dictated it. We have suppressed one or two passages near the
commencement of the article, having reason to believe that Mr. Grigsby
would not have written them if the circumstance to which he alludes had
been better understood. That Willis is a man of genius and an admirable
writer both in prose and verse, will not be questioned we think by a
large majority of those who are at all familiar with his productions.
There are some it is true, who affect a sneer at his pretensions,--and
there are others doubtless, who without affectation, do not admire him.
The world is infinitely diversified; and there is nothing in which
diversity is more strongly exemplified, than in matters of taste.
Shakspeare, Milton, Pope, Byron,--nay, almost all the illustrious
votaries of the NINE, have occasionally had their revilers,--and it
would perhaps be rather an unfavorable indication for any writer, that
his works had never been censured or criticised. The unfavorable
opinions formed of Willis's reputation, as deduced from his habitual
idleness at college--his repugnance to mathematical studies--or his
eccentricities either in dress or behaviour--seem to us to rest upon
very unphilosophical grounds. What if the merits of the immortal bard
of Avon, were to be tested by his diligence in the early acquisition of
knowledge! Even Lord Byron was not remarkable either for industry or
attainments whilst at school. As to the mathematics,--we dare say that
the more bigoted disciples of Euclid and Hutton, would deem it evidence
of bad taste, not to be inspired by the beauties and mysteries of the
triangle and cone;--but what would they think of the learned and
eloquent Gibbon, of whom it is said that so great was his disgust or
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