In 1822 the Port Folio was reduced to making selections from the literary and political journals of Europe after the manner of The Select Reviews which Ewing had edited.
The final suspension of the Port Folio was preceded by an international quarrel. John Neal was in England in 1834, and his offer to write for Blackwood's Magazine in that year a series of sketches of "American writers" was accepted, and the first instalment appeared in Blackwood's of September, 1824, page 305. The author could name only three writers "who would not pass just as readily for an English writer as for an American." The trio consisted of Paulding, Neal and Brown. The article was signed "X. Y. Z." and was written in the favorite Blackwood's "bludgeon" style. Neal says of himself, "He is undeniably the most original writer that America has produced—thinks himself the cleverest fellow in America, and does not scruple to say so—he is in Europe now." When he approached the date of the Port Folio, Neal paid his compliments, displaying unmistakable malice, to John E. Hall. "Hall had the misfortune, some years ago, to fall acquainted with Mr. Thomas Moore, the poet, while Mr. Moore was 'trampoosing' over America. It spoilt poor Hall—turned his brain. He has done little or nothing since but make-believe about criticism, talk dawdle-poetry with a lisp, write irresistible verses under the name of 'Sedley' in his own magazine, twitter sentimentally about 'little Moore,' his 'dear little Moore'—puffing himself all the time anonymously in the newspaper, while he is damning himself, with unmistakable sincerity, twelve times a year in his own magazine. We do not think very highly of the mutton-headed Athenians at Philadelphia; but we do think, nevertheless, that Mr. John E. Hall is a little too much of a blockhead even for their meridian."
Hall published a scathing review in the Port Folio, December, 1824, of the author of "Logan" and "Randolph," the Baltimorean who was writing for Blackwood's. In volume 19 (1825, p. 78) this "nauseous reptile" is still further reviewed. Neal is quoted as saying, "Dennie is dead, John E. Hall is alive; Dennie was a gentleman, John E. Hall is a blackguard;" and Hall retorts that Neal is a "liar of the first magnitude," who prefers "English guineas to Baltimore horsewhips."
The Port Folio was now making a desperate struggle for life. Its publication was suspended from January to July, 1826, and again from January to July, 1827. Its budget was finally closed in December, 1827.
FROM THE PORT FOLIO TO GRAHAM'S.
The Ladies' Museum was commenced in February, 1800, and made five numbers.
The Philadelphia Repository and Weekly Register was commenced in 1801. It was edited and published by David Hogan, and later by John W. Scott. It was popular and original.
The first magazine published in America for children appeared in Philadelphia in 1802—the Juvenile Magazine, or Miscellaneous Repository of Useful Information, Phila., 1802, printed for Benjamin Johnson and Jacob Johnston.
It was followed by the Juvenile Olio in the same year. This magazine was edited by "Amyntor" a citizen of Philadelphia, and was published by David Hogan.
Charles Brockden Brown, the most important of Philadelphia writers, the first professional man-of-letters in America, and the predecessor of all cis-Atlantic novelists, was born in Philadelphia, January 17, 1771, and in that city he founded, in 1803-4, the Literary Magazine and American Register.