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TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VOL. I. 



Dryden, whose " Indian Queen " (1664) and " Indian Emperor" (1665), 

 in one of which Montezuma figures, Pope's celebrated lines: " Lo ! the 

 poor Indian," etc., were cited. Passing by the intervening writers the 

 reader next took up Southey's " Prince Madoc," a work founded on a 

 Welsh legend relating to America, the;scene of which is partly in Aztlan 

 or Mexico and partly in Wales, and which contains some of the best 

 passages in Southey. The next poet considered was Thomas Moore, 

 who is best known, in this regard, by his ballad of the " Lake of the 

 Dismal Swamp." Moore visited the United States and Canada, and has 

 left us some charming pictures of the scenery of the great lakes and St. 

 Lawrence. Campbell's celebrated poem, " Gertrude of Wyoming," was 

 then referred to and the character of Outalissi, the Oneida warrior, dis- 

 cussed. The reader pointed out some of the exaggerations and mis- 

 statements in the poem. He then took up " Hiawatha," and the other 

 works of Longfellow, the poet -laureate of the American Indian, dwelling 

 briefly on its importance in the group of literary compositions under 

 consideration. The "Burial of the Minnisink" and "The Driving 

 Cloud." were also referred to. Bryant's "Prairie," Whittier's "Mogg 

 Megone," " Nauhaught the Deacon," Lowell's "Chippewa Legend," 

 JoaquinMiller's " Californian," and " Last Taschastas," were also taken 

 up briefly. Reference was also made to the mumerous short poems of 

 Mrs. Hemans dealing with American Indian lore and legend. 



Passing to Canada the reader noticed the poems of Chauveau, Frechette 

 and LenTay in particular. Amongst the writings of English-Canadians, 

 the dramas " Tecumseh," by Charles Mair, and " De Roberval," by Col. 

 Duvar, were discussed and interesting passages pointed out. Reference 

 was made at some length to the poetry relating to the Indian to be found 

 in the works of Mair, A. W. Eaton, Charles Sangster, and Prof. Roberts, 

 as well as in those of less celebrated Canadian writers. Notice was taken 

 also of Miss Pauhne Johnson, a descendant of the celebrated Capt. Joseph 

 Brandt. The reader closed by urging the importance of the Indian life, 

 lore, and legend of our country as a source of poetic inspiration. 



Mr. Bain called attention to a dramatic poem of the i8th century on 

 Pocahontas, who was a favourite subject for dramatic authors. It was 

 written by a Capt. Rogers, who, after the conquest of Quebec, was sent 

 to Montreal. He was the first English speaking traveler who mentioned 

 Toronto. After his return to England he wrote a journal of his travels 

 and the drama of " Pocahontas." He exhibited the greatest familiarity 

 with the Indian character. 



