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By Root 16365 0

is found in the fact that even these volumes are eagerly received by the public. They meet with success — at least with sale — at periods when the general market for literary wares is in a state of stagnation. The "Specimens of American Poetry," by KETTELL — the "Common-Place-Book of American Poetry," by CHEEVER — Selection by General MORRIS — another by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT — the "Poets of America," by Mr. KEESE — and the "Poets and Poetry of America," by RUFUS W. GRISWOLD — all these have been widely disseminated — and sold. In some measure, to be sure, we must regard their success as an affair of personalities. Each individual honored with a niche in the compiler's memory, is naturally anxious to possess a copy of the book so honoring him — and this anxiety will extend, in some cases, to ten or twenty of the immediate friends of the complimented; while, on the other hand, purchasers will arise, in no small number, from among a very different class — a class animated by very different feelings. We mean the omitted — the large body of those, who, supposing themselves entitled to mention, have yet, very unaccountably, been left unmentioned. These buy the unfortunate book, as a matter of course, for the purpose of abusing it with a clear conscience, and at leisure. But, holding these deductions in view, we are still warranted in believing that the demand for works of the kind in question, is to be attributed, mainly, to the general interest of the matter discussed.

As for the two books first mentioned, we place no very great emphasis upon them. The "Specimens" Mr. KETTELL were, in our opinion specimens of little beyond his own ill taste. A large proportion of what he gave to the world as American Poetry — to the exclusion of much that is really so — was the doggrel composition of individuals unheard-of and undreamed-of, except by Mr. KETTELL himself. Mr. CHEEVER'S "Common-Place-Book" had, at least, the merit of not belying its title, and was excessively common-place. The "Selection" by General MORRIS was in so far good, that it did not fall short of its object. This object looked to nothing more than single brief extracts, from the writings of every man in the country, who had established even the slightest reputation as a poet. The extracts, upon the whole, were tastefully made; but the proverbial kind feeling of the General seduced him, we fear, into the admission of much which his judgement disapproved. It was gravely declared that we had more than two hundred poets in the land. The compilation of Mr. BRYANT — from whom much was expected — proved a source of mortification to his friends, and of disappointment to all — merely showing that a poet is, necessarily, neither a critical nor an impartial judge of poetry. Mr. KEESE brought to his task, it not the most vigorous impartiality, at least a decent taste, a tolerable judgment, and a better knowledge of his subject than had distinguished some of his predecessors.

Much, however, remained to be done — and, in a very large book, Mr. GRISWOLD has endeavoured to do it. The basis of his compilation is formed of short biographical and critical notice, with selections from the works of eighty-seven poets. In an Appendix, are included specimens from the writings of some sixty or seventy more, whose compositions have either been too few, or in the editor's opinion, too bad, to entitle them to more particular notice. To each of these latter specimens, are appended foot-notes, conveying a brief biographical summary, without anything of critical disquisition.

In saying that, individually, we disagree with the compiler of the "Poets and Poetry of America" in many — in very many of his comparative estimates and general opinions, we are merely suggesting what, in itself, would have been obvious without the suggestion. It rarely happens that any two persons thoroughly agree upon any one point. It would be mere madness to imagine that any two could coincide in every point of a case, wherein exist a multiplicity of opinions, upon a multiplicity of points. There is no one who, reading