250 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
OEL BARLOW, a man equally 
diftinguithed in Europe and America, 
was born at Reading, 1 Connecticut, 
about the year 1758 or 59; entered Yale 
eallege in September, 1774; and gradu- 
ated in 1778. The events of his youth 
were probably no wife remarkable.— 
Reading is a {mall country place; Mr. 
Barlow, fen. was a refpectable farmer ; 
and his fon, no doubt, received the cuf- 
tomary inftruction of youths in his 
fituation. ; 
The clafs in which Mr. BARLOW en- 
fered was remarkable from the aflemblage 
ef men of talents, many of whom now pof- 
fefs a large thare of public confidence, 
and influence, or direct the councils of - 
their country. To be ranked among the 
frit in fuch a group is no ordinary praite ; 
and as among the fir Mr. BaRLOW was 
uniformly confidered. 
Among many abfurd cuftoms which 
formerly prevailed. at “Yale college, bur 
which are fince abolifhed, was that of an 
aynual challenge, from the Frefhman to 
the Sophimore clafs, on the fell of the 
Sr frow, to a combat at fnow-balling. 
This cuftom is only of importance, at 
refent, as it gave birth to the firft poem. 
Mr. BarLow is known to have pro- 
duced. The confli¢ of the contending 
ae was happily pourtrayed: the de- 
cription of a. fnew-ftorm, with which the 
yaem commenced, conclyded with this 
tinted line— 
€¢ And Jove defcends in magazgines- 
0 
*Fhe attachment which Mr. BaRLow 
difplayed for poetry, recom: ended him 
fo the particular notice of Dr. Dwicnt; 
and though his tutorial infiructions were 
eonfined, principally, to another clafs, 
yet he took frequent occafion to promote 
the improvement of his young friend. 
To this Mr, BARLow alludes, in very 
frong terms, in an unpublifhed poetical 
getter, addreffed to his friend WaLcorr 
{now Secretary of the Treafury of the 
United States), fhortly after their depar- 
ture from college; in which he declares, 
the fummit of his happinefs and the ¢x- 
tent of his withes to be, to have - 
© Dwient for Sis tutor, WaLcort for dis 
friend.” 
With what fuccefs Mr. Baguow culti- 
vated poetry, may be judged by his poem 
delivered at the public examination for 
the bachelor’sdegree, in 177%, anc which 
was printed at the time. 
‘On leaving college, the tiender finances 
compofed. 
Account of Mr. Foel Barlow, an American Poet. - [OC 
of our author admenifhed him to feleét 
fome employment which would fpeedily 
furnith him with the means of fubfiftence. 
The Conneéticut army, at this time, was 
deficient i. chaplains; and he was urged 
to qualify himielf for that appoimtment. 
This required time; but it was intimated 
to him, that fuch was the confidence 
in his genius, application, virtue, and 
fuch the defire to ferve-him, that a brief 
preparation was all that would be de~ 
manded, and that every indulgence fhould 
be fhewn him at the examination. Thus 
encouraged, he applied himielf ftrenu- 
aufly to theological ftudies; and at the 
end of fix weeks, it is faid, fuftained 2 
reputable examination, was licenced te 
preach, -and repaired to the army, Asa 
preacher Mr. BARLOW was much res 
fpeted ; and the writer.of this article re- 
members to have heard him deliver twa. 
fermons during his theological courfe, 
How long he continued in the army, is 
not now recollected; but probably till 
the clofe of the war. In 1781, however, 
he repaired to New Haven, and took his 
decree of mafter of arts. On this ocea~ 
fion he pronounced a poem, which was 
foon after printed; and was intended 2g 
the earneft of his ‘* Y2fom of Columous,” 
which from this it appears he hadalready 
This fimall poem, together 
with that above-mentioned, and ap Elegy 
on the Hon, Mr. Hafmer, are repubjifhed 
ia the ‘© Amerjcan Poems,” vol.-i. fo 
often referred to in thefe notices, | 
- After leaving the army, Mr, BAaRLow 
applied himfelf to the ftudy of the law, 
to which he had early deftined himfelf, 
But immedjate fupport was neceflary; 
and at the fuggeftion, and probably with 
the affitance of his friend, he undertook 
and fucceeded in the eftablifhment of a. 
weekly paper, in conne€tion with a printer 
at Harttord. During this conne&tion he 
publifhed his ‘$* Vujoa of Columbus,” 
which has gone through two American, 
one London, and one Paris edition. <The 
fubjest of this poem was popular; and 
the astive zeal of the friends of the au- 
‘thor, fecured for it a favourable recep- 
tion. But its merit, over-rated: at firft, 
is now under-yalued. The warmth o 
friendfhip, and the decifion of an Ame- 
rican, may be {ufpeéted of partiality; 
but, after every dedudtion, the « Vator 
of Columbus’? mut be confidered as a 
ipecimen of talents highly honourable to 
he eafe, correétnefs, 
and the philcfophical tom of thought, 
which it ditplays throughout, are muck 
