INTRODUCTION. 143 



long be remembered as sweet minstrels, whose voices were hushed in an early 

 grave. Since death disarms envy, we have spoken with freedom of these 

 departed votaries of the divine art ; but prudence, and a respect for contem- 

 poraneous opinion, exact more caution in our notice of living poets. Bryant, 

 to whom is assigned the palm in philosophic, descriptive and didactic verse ; 

 Halleck, the versatile author of " Alnwick Castle," " Fanny," and " Marco 

 Bozzaris ;" Paulding, whose " Backwoodsman " may be regarded as a national 

 poem ; Charles F. Hoffman, whose " Vigil of Faith " is the fruit of early culti- 

 vated genius, and who has thrown the charms of poetry, as well as of romance, 

 over our own almost unknown mountains and lakes ; Alfred B. Street, known as 

 the author of " Nature," " A Forest Walk," and " The Grey Forest Eagle ; " 

 Edward Sanford, author of the spirited " Address to Black Hawk ; " Peter H. 

 Myers, author of " Ensenore ; " George W. Doane and William Croswell, writers 

 of sacred lyrics ; Theodore S. Fay, John Inman and Park Benjamin, not unsuc- 

 cessful in poetry, though engaged in other fields of literature ; James 0. Rock- 

 well, author of " The Lost at Sea ;" Samuel Woodworth, writer of a touching 

 effusion, " The Old Oaken Bucket," which our domestic affections will not permit 

 to lose a place in our literature ; Elizabeth F. Ellet, author of " The Daughter 

 of Herodias; " Mary E. Brooks and her sister, Mrs. Hall, known to our readers 

 as Noma and Hinda ; and Emma C. Embury, who has given us the chaste and 

 affecting verses entitled " Christ in the Tempest ; " all are writers whose fame is 

 cherished by the generous and refined portion of the American community.* 



The history of the fine arts in New- York, unfortunately, is scarcely more 

 than an account of a controversy concerning the manner of promoting them. 

 The American Academy of Fine Arts was established in the city of New- York 

 in 1800, and was incorporated in 1808, with liberal legislative patronage. 

 Among the founders of the institution, were Robert R. Livingston, John R. Mur- 

 ray, De Witt CUnton, Charles Wilkes, Fobert Fulton, WiUiam Cutting, Edward 

 Livingston, Rufus King, David Hosack, and James Fairhe. The object of the 



* Notes on Literature were received from Cbakles F. Hoffman, Esq., and Alfred B. Street, Esq, 



