310 CALLOGRAPHY. 



CHAPTER IV. 



AMERICAN CALLOGRAPHY. 



THE Polite Literature of the United States, though limited in 

 extent, is, we think, not unworthy of a youthful nation. The sub- 

 jugation of a new country, the development of its physical resources, 

 and the acquisition of property, have necessarily preceded the culti- 

 vation of that taste in the fine arts, which wealth and leisure alone 

 can foster, and without which, genius must languish in obscurity and 

 neglect. But we indulge the hope that henceforward, wealth and 

 leisure will be less devoted to gaudy show ; and that taste and genius 

 will be more highly appreciated, and more adequately rewarded, 

 by those who possess the requisite means. We may remark that 

 although less polite literature might have been written, perhaps even 

 more of it might have been preserved, by our countrymen, had not 

 our language been so rich already in this department. 



Of American epic poetry, Dwight's Conquest of Canaan, describ- 

 ing the establishment of the Jews in the Holy Land, is perhaps the 

 oldest and best specimen. Barlow's Vision of Columbus, which 

 was afterwards enlarged under the title of the Columbiad, is, we 

 think, a poem of considerable merit, on the Discovery of America, 

 and the future glory of the United States. The Fredoniad, by 

 Emmons, describing at large th'e events of the Last War with 

 Great Britain, falls below the dignity of an epic poem, and has 

 been but little read. Adams's Madoc, relating to a Welsh prince of 

 that name, who is supposed to have discovered America, is a digni- 

 fied poem, but has not met with general attention. TrumbulPs Mac 

 Fingal, is a mock heroic poem, written in favor of the Revolution ; 

 and the Jlnarchiad, by Lemuel Hopkins and others, was designed to 

 further the adoption of the Federal Constitution. 



Of American lyric poetry, the patriotic songs of Hopkinson and 

 others, had a marked influence during our struggle for Independence. 

 The Jldims and Liberty, of Robert Treat Paine, and especially the 

 Hail Columbia, of Judge Hopkinson, are among those happy efforts 

 which have acquired a national renown ; and next and similar to 

 them we would mention the Star Spangled Banner, by Francis Key, 

 and the American Flag, by Drake, as among the noblest effusions of 

 patriotism. Humphrey's Address to the Revolutionary Army, and 

 other patriotic poems ; Freneau's Address of Columbus to Ferdi- 

 nand ; and Ladd's Address to the Sun, a Runick Ode; are among 

 the older and valuable specimens of American poetry. We would 

 mention Percival's Ode to Music, and Ode to Freedom ; Bryant's 

 Forest Hymn, Hymn to Death, and Thanatopsis ; Sprague's 'Shak- 

 speareOde; Halleck's Marco Bozzari* ; Brooks's Greece; Everett's 

 Alaric; Mrs. Sigourney's Napoleon's Epitaph, and Lady Jane Grey ; 

 Dana's Dying Raven; Woodwork's Bucket; Willis's Confessional, 

 and Table of Emerald; Brainard's Epithalamium.; Whittier's New 

 England; Peabody's Hymn of Nature; Clark's Last Prayer of 



