“Some person ought to write a critical review analising Lord Byron’s language, in order to guard others against imitating him in these respects.”
Emerson and Carlyle—
“Do you know Miss Peabody of Boston? She has just sent me, with the highest eulogy, certain essays of Mr. Emerson. Our—— and he appear to be what the French called esprits forts, though the French idols showed their spirit after a somewhat different fashion. Our two present Philosophes, who have taken a language which they suppose to be English, for their vehicle, are, verily, par nobile fratrum, and it is a pity that the weakness of our age has not left them exclusively to this appropriate reward—mutual admiration. Where is the thing which now passes for philosophy at Boston to stop?”
Such are a few random selections from the spoken opinions of the poet. He hated innovation, hence his attack upon the two last named authors, not made, I think, in the very best spirit. I must here leave him, however. He will stand well upon his honours in all future generations, and must certainly be ranked as a poet in the same category with Milton.
FINIS.
——————
J. S. Pratt, Stokesley, Yorkshire.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] These remarks do not of course apply to Cowper and Burns, to whom our modern literature is so deeply indebted, but to their predecessors, from Pope downwards.
[B] Memoirs of William Wordsworth, by Dr. Wordsworth, vol. 1, page 7.
[C] De Quincy, Tait’s Magazine, for 1839.
[D] It is related by De Quincy, that during Wordsworth’s early residence in the lake country—after his return from Cambridge—his mind was so oppressed by the gloomy aspect of his fortunes, that evening card-playing was resorted to, to divert him from actual despondency.