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of all the devotees of learning throughout the Ame- | the Carolinas now rank among the first in the rican Union. Yale and Harvard first shed around United States, wanting alone, that age, which alit their classic light, like pharoi on the shores of ways commands a certain veneration, respect and science, guiding the sons of learning through the confidence, to rival the parent institutions in New reigning gloom. England, around which is thrown the venerable charm of antiquity.

Although precedency is justly due to New England in literature, we must not withhold the truth, that to southern mind, as it developed itself in the general relations of the American people to each other, throughout one of the most interesting periods of human events, is due the palm of supremacy; the one state of Massachusetts, perhaps, alone excepted. New England maintained her ascendancy in literature, by the superiority of her home education over that of the other colonies. But to balance this, the Carolinians and Virginians were generally educated in old England, the tutors, instructors and libraries of which country, it will not be denied, were far superior to any in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. After America cast off her allegiance to Great Britain, New England became almost exclusively the nursery of men of learning in the south.

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The steps by which a people, whose elements are of such a kind as compose the constantly forming states of this Union, advance to literary distinction, after the want of literature is discovered, are few and easily traced. A weekly periodical, and the district, or village school, rise up nearly together; the academy grows out of the latter, and the weekly literary paper out of the former: this, in its turn is followed by the monthly magazine, the cotemporary of which is the university. At this crisis, the foundation of permanent literature and science is established, and the progress of the state toward literary eminence will then rest solely upon the energies and genius of its population. Like the target in a school of archery, magazines may then test the skill of the literary gladiators of the universities, whose genius prompts them to enter the arena of literature, and encourage them eventually to a higher trial of their aim, in a wider and more responsible field. Leaving, how

theme as literature, we can be said materially to digress, we will endeavor to adhere more closely to our subject, which is one branch of southern literature alone, and this branch is Fiction.

The most prominent novelist in the south, its most eminent author, and one whose name stands among the foremost of American imaginative writers, is W. Gilmore Simms, Esq. of South Carolina.

At length Virginia and the Carolinas, beginning to feel the force and truth of the proposition that foreign education (here used in its most limited sense) is dangerous to patriotism, resolved to be-ever, this brief digression, if on so discursive a come independent of the north, and laid foundations for literary institutions at home. They were, however, still dependant on New England for instructors; for those southern gentlemen, who could meet the expense of an education abroad, were such, always, as could live independently of labor, especially scientific toil. All, or nearly all of the educated southerners, were men of easy fortunes, and therefore, indisposed to literary exer- This gentleman is a native of South Carolina. tion; or professional men, too much occupied to His first appearance as an author, with that preturn aside from their daily duties. The north, maturity which governs both mind and matter in therefore, supplied professors for their infant col- a southern clime, was made at the early age of leges. That independence in their fortunes, which nineteen. "Lyrical and other Poems," is the rendered it unnecessary for southern gentlemen to title of this boyish production, which extended to superintend their colleges, was also a bar to their two hundred pages, and bears the ambitious motto engaging in literary pursuits; for, it is the spur," Mihi cura futuri," a desire felt doubtless by all oftener than the laurel, that urges genius toward the authors, but seldom so audaciously avowed in goal of fame. Therefore, although the south has front of their works. In this production, which produced many of the most polished scholars, elo- appeared in 1827, are a few gems of poetry, here quent orators, and profound statesmen, who, during and there, discoverable amid a mine of juvenile the last half century, have distinguished our coun- crudities. Of its reception we know but little, try, her sons have, until a recent period, kept aloof but from the fact that the book was shortly after from participating (we except Marshall, Wirt, suppressed by the author, its popularity was, no and a few others, whom our limits will not permit doubt, sufficiently limited. In his twenty-first us to mention more particularly) in the current year, Mr. Simms again ventured into the literary literature of the day. Philadelphia first began to lists, throwing down his gauntlet, in the shape of enter the lists against New England, and has al- a neat little 18 mo. printed in Charleston in 1829, ready equalled the renown of the once literary em- and entitled "The Vision of Cortes, Cain, and porium. New York and Baltimore followed in other Poems." To this work he fixed his name, the race for literary distinction, and Charleston, the former work having been published anonymore recently, has advanced her claims to rank, as mously. This book was better received, inasmuch the Athens of the south. as it was more deserving of merit than the lyrics. It possesses numerous excellencies, and contains

The colleges and universities of Virginia and

VOL. IV.-67

lines, and even stanzas that breathe the true spirit of conductor of a party journal, he was fearless, just song. His verse is animated, and often sparkles with and honest, immovable and self-sacrificing, where the fire of genius. With many beauties, there exist political truths were at stake; and so firm an admore defects, but throughout them all is visible the herent to the unadulterated principles of civil liberproof of poetical power of no common order. The ty, that he was regarded in his station as conductor articles are chiefly fragmentary, appear to have of the City Gazette (the first journal, we believe, been thrown off, as the painters say, at a sitting, and, that ever took side against nullification,) as partiwithout being honored by the supervision of the cularly harsh and uncompromising. This newsauthor, placed in the printer's hands; for this is paper eventually involved the editor in losses, and the way young authors, impatient to arrive at the burdened him with pecuniary responsibilities. dignity of type, do these things. "The Vision of He therefore disposed of it, and with the indepenCortes," the leading poem, is thirty-three cantos in | dence of a self-sustaining mind, and of a man conlength, in the "Lady of the Lake" verse. Its fident in his own powers, resolved to retrieve his imagery is often exceedingly incorrect, and it is fortunes by his pen, enlisting it in a species of comwritten without the slightest regard to geographi- position in some degree foreign to what he had cal history. Young authors can seldorn dis-hitherto attempted. From this hour, the career of mount from their high horse to look along the ground after landmarks. Genius never consults volumes. Poets, forsooth, have nothing to do with other books than the book of nature.

Mr. Simms as an author may be said to have commenced; for up to this time, he had accomplished nothing fairly to entitle him to any considerable rank among American poets. The work to which we allude, and which laid the foundation of poetic fame, destined, we doubt not, to survive, is “Atalantis, a Story of the Sea," a dramatic poem, in three parts, bearing the impress on every page of

This volume of Poems, though not deficient in genuine merit, and plainly bearing blossoms promising that fruit which has since ripened, would not deserve a notice in this article, aside from their relation to the early literary history of the sub- a highly imaginative and poetic mind. The story ject of it. He, himself, will not thank us for allu - | is simple, and beautifully told. The argument is ding to them here, having long since made his as follows: Onesimarchus, a sea-god, enamored atonement to the public in the suppression of the work. So, the proud young eagle scorns the shaggy and unsightly pinions of the eaglet, albeit from them grow the broad shapely wings on which he balances himself in mid air, or darts flashing in the sunlight.

with the charms of the fairy queen, Atalantis, seizes and imprisons her, and deprives her of her wand, by the aid of which alone she could hope to escape. A ship at length appears in sight, and the monster leaves her, to lure the distant stranger to his island. A benevolent spirit of the air, in seeking to render abortive the malignant plans of Onesimarchus, in vain warns the crew of their danger. The barque is wrecked, and a beautiful youth who is the mortal hero of the drama, is cast on the enchanted island. The lovely fairy, on beholding him weeping for a sister lost in the waves, loves him. Her love is requited. By bringing natural and moral powers to bear against supernatural and diabolical ones, he overcomes the monster, and extricates the fairy from her situation, effecting at the same time his own release.

Within a year after the publication of the "Vision of Cortes," appeared another volume of boyish miscellaneous verse. This was followed by a fourth, entitled ، The Tri-color, or the Three Days of Blood in Paris," a poem of 600 lines, in the form of the lyrical ode, intended to illustrate the revolution of the trois jours, in 1830. The volume is eked out with other poems on kindred topics. This poem, like all the early productions of the poet, bears the evidences of hasty composition, yet it appears to better advantage than all that preceded it, though perhaps without possessing Though the machinery of the story is so exthe same amount of poetry; but the art or ma- ceedingly simple, it is managed with great effect, chinery is more perfect, and fewer crudities are and made the medium of much beautiful imagery, discoverable of immature judgment, to offend the touching description, and great purity and melody taste of the reader. This work was published of versification. The poem is purely imaginaanonymously, and was shortly afterwards suppress- tive, appeals to the intellect alone, leaving the ed by the author. None of these four early pro- bosom untouched; hence its moral, which is beauductions were encouragingly saleable; they were tiful and appropriate, is, in a measure, lost. There limited in their circulation, and won for the author is a manly and concise vigor in this poem, and a but faint reputation. But Mr. Simms did not clearness of expression, found only in the best devote his attention exclusively to poetry. During poets of the language. Its general character is the whole of the period embraced by the above- wildly imaginative, yet it is not wanting in play mentioned works, he was the able and industrious of fancy, and touches of delicate pleasantry. A editor either of a literary or daily political jour- few extracts will best illustrate the style of which nal, and all his poetical pieces were written in the we speak. The vessel is gliding over a summer intervals of his engrossing occupation. As the | sea, when Leon, the mortal hero, and his sister

Isabel, hear the voice of the good spirit warning, them of the designs of Onesimarchus.

Leon. Didst hear the strain it utter'd, Isabel?
Isa. All, all! It spoke, methought, of peril near
From rocks and wiles of the ocean; did it not?
Leon. It did, but idly! Here can lurk no rocks;
For, by the chart, which now before me lies,
Thy own unpractised eye may well discern
The wide extent of the ocean-shoreless all.

The land, for many a league, to th' eastward hangs,

And not a point beside it.

Isa. Wherefore then,

Should come this voice of warning?

Leon. From the deep

It hath its demons as the earth and air,

All tributaries to the master-fiend

That sets their springs in motion. This is one,
That, doubting to mislead us, plants this wile,
So to divert our course, that we may strike
The very rocks he fain would warn us from.
Isa. A subtle sprite-and, now I think of it,
Dost thou remember the old story told
By Diaz Ortis, the lame mariner;

Of an adventure in the Indian seas,

Where he made one with John of Portugal-
Touching a woman of the ocean wave,

That swam beside the barque, and sang strange songs
Of riches in the waters; with a speech
So winning on the senses, that the crew
Grew all infected with the melody;
And, but for a good father of the church,

Who made the sign of the cross, and offer'd up
Befitting pray'rs, which drove the fiend away,
They had been tempted by her cunning voice
To leap into the ocean?

Mendez, the captain of the fated ship, also hears the warning voice, but makes light of it.

Mendez. It is a standing tale

With the old seamen, that a woman comes-
Her lower parts being fishlike-in the wave;
Singing strange songs of love, that so inflame
The blinded seamen, that they steal away
And join her in the waters; and, that then,
Having her victim, she is seen no more.

Leon. And is it deemed, the idly vent'rous thus,
Become a prey and forfeit life at once?

Mendez. So must it be; and yet, there is a tale
That they do wed these creatures; which have power
So to convert their nature, as to make,

As to themselves, the waves their element;
And have a life renewed, though at the risk

And grievous peril of their christian souls,
Doom'd thence unto perdition.

Leon. And you then

Think nothing of this music?

Mendez. By'r grace,

Surely I hold it the wild, lustful song

Of this same woman; who has lost, perchance,
Since death must come at last who comes to all,
Her late companion. Would you take his place?
If not, wax up your ears and take your rest,
There's nought to fear, and sea-room quite enough.

After the shipwreck, the fairy, Atalantis, chances to ramble with her attendant Nea, along the sand, when she discovers the inanimate form of the youth Leon, clinging to a spar.

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Atal. There is life in him-

And his heart swells beneath my hand, with pulse,
Fitful and faint, returning now, now gone,
That much I fear it may not come again.
How very young he is-how beautiful!
Made, with a matchless sense of what is true,
In manly grace and chiselled elegance;
And features, rounded in as nice a mould
As our own, Nea. There, his eye unfolds-
Stand away, girl, and let me look on him!
It cannot be, that such a form as this,
So lovely and compelling, ranks below
The creatures of our kingdom. He is one,
That 'mongst them all, might well defy compare--
Outshining all that shine!

Nea. He looks as well,

In outward seeming, as our own, methinks-
And yet, he may be but a shaped thing,
Wanting in every show of that high sense
Which makes the standard of true excellence.
Atal. Oh, I am sure there is no want in him-
The spirit must be true, the sense be high,
The soul as far ascending, strong and bright,
As is the form he wears, and they should be
Pleased to inhabit--twere a fitting home!
Breathe on him, Nea. Fan him with thy wing,
And so arouse him. I would have him speak,
And satisfy my doubt. Stay, yet awhile-
Now, while his senses sleep, I'll place my lip
Upon his own--it is so beautiful!

Such lips should give forth music-such a sweet
Should have been got in heaven-the produce there,
Of never blighted gardens.

Leon. [starts.] Cling to me-

Am I not with thee now, my Isabel?

[Kisses him

[Swoons again

Atal. Oh, gentle sounds--how sweetly did they fall
In broken murmurs, like a melody,

From lips, that waiting long on loving hearts,

And learn'd to murmur like them. Wake again,
Sweet stranger! If my lips have wrought this spell,
And won thee back to life, though but to sigh,
And sleep again in death, they shall, once more,
Wake and restore thee.

Leon, at length, proposes to challenge Onesimarchus to single combat. Atalantis replies :

Atal. Could I get my wand,

In which a power of mightiest strength abides,
I'd battle him myself, and drive him back,
And whelm the barren isle on which we rest.
Nay, more than this, if that thy sister sleeps,
Beneath the waters, though I may not win
Her spirit back to life, with that same wand
We both may penetrate the tumbling waves,
Without or hurt or harm, with vision free,
To find her gentle beauties, where they rest
On quiet beds of flow'rs beneath the deep-
And with such dexterous skill, we may enwrap,
With a choice wreath of shells, her fragile form,
That still her eyes should shine as when in life,
Her cheeks still glow with purest red-her lips---
Though they no more, with many a tone of love
Made sweet by beauty, whisper in your ears--
Still look the sweetness they have ever look'd,
Wearing the wonted freshness that was theirs--
And nothing that thy sense may seek, shall lack,
To her preserved bloom.

The above passages, aside from some negligence of melody in the structure of two or three of the lines, are remarkably beautiful. They breathe the spirit of the high and beautiful in poetry. As an entire production, though still wanting in finish, Atalantis claims distinction as the best, as it is the earliest, American dramatic poem. Some passages in it are not unworthy of our modern

Shakspeare, James Sheridan Knowles:-(this we some of his characters in this novel, Mr. Simms consider high, but deserved praise :) while in has been eminently successful. His descripsome of the more touching scenes, we are reminded tions of southern scenery, are bold and natuof the exquisite fancy of Maturin. Compared ral, and evince the close observer and admirer with the most distinguished cotemporary poets, of nature, in her quiet beauty as well as in ber Mr. Simms combines with the sparkling wit and majesty. The popularity of Martin Faber, algraceful vigor of Halleck, the elegance and gen- though it passed through two editions, was, in tleness of Bryant, resembling him closely in his some degree, limited to the south; that of Guy truthful delineations of rustic scenes, and in the Rivers was more extensive, and after its appearmelancholy philosophy, characteristic of the great ance, the Union claimed the novelist as one of her American poet. Atalantis belongs to the class national writers, whose genius and talents promisof the "Tempest," and "Midsummer Night's ed to confer honor upon its native literature. Dream," the "Comus" of Milton, and Byron's "Manfred," partaking largely of the tone and character of all of them, without forfeiting its claim to originality. As an American work, it is a novelty, and its appearance created many commendatory notices from the press, on both sides of the Atlanlic. The main fault of the poem is a tedium and prolixity of dialogue, the necessary consequence of inattention to epic arrangement. We have, at some length, dwelt on Atalantis, as it is the poem on which Mr. Simms takes rank as a poet, aside from certain beautiful lyrics, since published.

Guy Rivers, which passed through a third edi tion, was followed, in 1835, (about five years, we believe, after the publication of Atalantis) by "The Yemassee," a romance of Carolina. This novel at once obtained extensive popularity, and soon passed into a second, and then into a third edition. This production placed Mr. Simms among the foremost of American novelists.

After Mr. Cooper, by placing the scenes of his later fictions in Europe, and by residing there himself, had virtually deserted the field of American fiction, several competitors for his laurels In 1832, the same year Atalantis appeared, Mr. appeared before the public. The most successful Simms published in the American Quarterly, a of these, perhaps, was Mr. Paulding, who has not, review of Mrs. Trollope's "Domestic Manners." however, confined his talents exclusively to novel It acquired immense popularity, the papers were writing, and whose fame as a romancer, rests filled with copious extracts from it, and on all principally upon his "Dutchman's Fire-Side," sides it met with the highest encomiums. It was and his "Westward Ho!" both novels evincing republished in London, and sold enormously as a great talent, and which obtained for their author shilling pamphlet. We next hear of our author deserved reputation. Another of these novelists in a new character, that of a novelist, in which he is Dr. Bird, of Philadelphia, the author of “The is best known to the American public. In 1833, Gladiator," "Calavar," "The Infidel,” and “The he published his first romance, entitled Martin Hawks of Hawk-Hollow;" productions of distinFaber, or the "Story of a Criminal," which guished merit and deserved popularity. Mr. Kenestablished the fame of the author as a writer of nedy of Baltimore, the author of " Swallow Barn," prose fictions. It rapidly acquired popularity. It" Horse Shoe Robinson," and that original and is written in a free, forcible style, which is a prominent feature in the writings of Mr. Simms; and while it contains many uncommon beauties of thought and expression, and some fine touches, as if with a master's pencil, it is overlaid with too much of the "Southern florescence," as some one has termed the warm, fluent, and figurative language of the south; a term sufficiently strong to apply to that effulgence and glitter of language, which is a characteristic, but not an unfavorable one, of southern orators and writers.

amusing jeu d'esprit," Sheppard Lee," is also one of them. These three distinguished writers, with Mr. Simms, were, in 1835, at the time of the Yemassee, the most prominent novelists, occupying the ground so successfully held by Mr. Cooper. John Neal, Esq. who had gained fame as a novelist, and whose writings will be particularly noticed hereafter, and two or three others, had retired from active authorship before the period we have just named, and do not rank as co-aspirants with these gentlemen. Some writers have apThe fame of Mr. Simms, as a novelist, is, how-peared also, within the last two or three years, ever, to be dated from the publication of "Guy who have not yet won the toga virilis of the mature Rivers, a Tale of Georgia," a fiction which ap- writer. The field was in 1835, and, in a degree, peared a short time after Martin Faber. This still is in the possession of these four novelists, production obtained for the author extensive who, possessed of different degrees of talent and popularity, and widely extended his name as a popularity, and writers of nearly an equal number writer. Historical events, and historical facts, so of fictions, now share between them the fame difficult to amalgamize with romantic incidents, which Cooper once possessed alone. One of these, are interwoven in this tale, with much effect. It or some other one, must eventually outstrip his cocontains some stirring scenes, and several touch- aspirants, and fix on himself the public eye. There ing pictures of still life. In the delineations of is but one wreath, and but one can win it. Al

though the general term for literature, is, "the | tian, " in the valley of the shadow of death; in a republic of letters," experience proves that it is wilderness; a land of deserts and pits; a land of an absolute monarchy. No age has exhibited drought and of the shadow of death; a land that more than one monarch of literature, in each of its no man (save an author) passeth through." If he branches. There has appeared in a generation, gets safely through this ordeal, he has only to but one Shakspeare, but one Milton, but one walk forward to the city of Fame beyond, and Bacon, and but one Sir Walter Scott. Nor has enrol his name among the names of those who any branch of science remained for a length of have gone before him. But most authors,-to time under (if it may so be expressed) an inter-continue the parallel we have adopted,―affrighted regnum. From among the candidates for the seat by the noise of the dragons and hobgoblins, the of eminence, Genius selects her favorite, and with hisses of serpents, and the roar of hydras, turn back the universal consent of mankind, places him on in despair, and never venture again on a journey the vacant throne. Who will be elevated to the beset by so many dangers. seats vacated by Scott, in Great Britain, and, perhaps by Cooper, in America, a few years will determine.

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When the Yemassee appeared, the critics newly nibbed, or, if perchance, they used steel, filed their pens, and adopting for their motto, cano arma The Yemassee is the most interesting of Mr. virumque," prepared to dispute the passage of Simms' novels, although the Partisan and Mel- this traveller up Parnassus. Though sorely beset lichampe are more labored and finished pro-and desperately wounded, our author passed this ductions. In his descriptions of southern forest formidable ordeal of public opinion in safety. scenery, Mr. Simms is very happy, and paints In the following year, 1836, Mr. Simms, with the eye of a student of nature. The portraits instead of being disheartened by his reception, and of Indian character which he has drawn, are re-retiring from the contest, like others who had markably graphic. In his draughts of the aboriginal warrior, he is only second to Cooper, and in one or two instances he has excelled that great master of American fiction.

preceded him, sought further literary reputation through the pages of the "Partisan, a Tale of the Revolution," the scenes of which are laid in South Carolina. The Partisan professes to be the first of a series of novels, the series to be com

and each romance to embrace a prominent historical incident of the war of American independence. The same revolution in the public taste, which has cut down the novel from six and eight volumes, to

sent obstacles to the success of several consecutive novels, the characters of which are the same; such a series is in reality but one novel, divided into several books, the stories of which but slightly vary, while the characters, though in different stations and circumstances, continue the same.

No

In all that goes to make a romance suited to the taste of the present age, the Yemassee is emi-pleted in three romances, of two volumes each, nently rich. The romance of the narrative is admirably sustained, while the curiosity and excitement of the reader are preserved unabated; it abounds in scenes of intense tragic interest, and with passages of deep feeling. As a tale, it is suf-two in America, and in England three, will preficiently mysterious, and is well told. The style is graver and more direct than that of Martin Faber; polished without being stiff, or parting with any of its characteristic ease or vivacity. Nevertheless it is open to criticism, and perhaps received a severer share of caustic excathedra than any previous production of the same author. This, how-series of romances can succeed, which has but one ever, may have been owing, in part, to the crisis at set of characters, unless the stories are wholly which Mr. Simms had now arrived. There is separate, each presenting an entire and discona certain point in an author's career, which, if suc- nected plot. The reader, especially the reader of cessfully passed, becomes to him the gate to future novels, is attracted by novelty, and few have the eminence. The first, second, and perhaps third patience to follow one cast of characters throughbooks of a new aspirant to literary fame, may be out several volumes, however alluring may be the gently handled; but when by a succession of style, however thrilling the story. If an author works, the new candidate evinces his determina- should have the temerity to publish a novel extion to climb to the topmost peak of the literary tending to four hundred pages in each volume, his Pisgah, those custom-house officers of literature, popularity would be buried beneath it, like a fair the critics, with equal resolution determine to fabric crushed by the weight of its own towers. examine rigidly into his claims to this distinction. The talents, experience, and high literary rank of Bella horrida bella! Then comes the tug of war Mr. Simms, will enable him, however, fairly to indeed! On every side, he is assailed: dangers test the success of such a series as he has contemthicken around him, clouds hang over his head, plated, and already commenced. thunder and lightning alarm and bewilder him, The Partisan is dedicated to Richard Yeadon, and the poor author who before thought himself Jr. Esq. of South Carolina, in a brief note of four gliding on swimmingly to the haven of immor- or five lines. The custom of dedicating books is tality, finds himself at once, like Bunyan's Chris- as ancient as the earliest era of book publishing,

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