The twilight of the trees and rocks Thine eyes are springs, in whose serene The forest depths by foot impressed Of those calm solitudes, is there. A rich simplicity is a main feature in this poem -simplicity of design and execution. This is strikingly perceptible in the opening and concluding lines, and in expression throughout. But there is a far higher and more strictly ideal beauty, which it is less easy to analyze. The original conception is of the very loftiest order of true Poesy. A maiden is born in the forest Green boughs and glimpses of the sky Are all which meet her infant eye — She is not merely modelled in character by the associations of her childhood this were the thought of an ordinary poet an idea that we meet with every day in rhyme but she imbibes, in her physical as well as moral being, the traits, the very features of the delicious scenery around her its loveliness becomes a portion of her own The twilight of the trees and rocks It would have been a highly poetical idea to imagine the tints in the locks of the maiden deducing a resemblance to the "twilight of the trees and rocks,' from the constancy of her associations - but the spirit of Ideality is immeasurably more apparent when the twilight" is represented as becoming identified with the shadows of her hair. 66 The twilight of the trees and rocks Is in her heart and on her face. Feeling thus, we did not, in copying the poem, italicize the lines, although beautiful, Thy step is as the wind that weaves Its playful way among the leaves, nor those which immediately follow. The two con cluding verses, however, are again of the most elevated species of poetical merit. The forest depths by foot impressed The image contained in the lines Thine eyes are springs in whose serene is one which, we think, for appropriateness, completeness, and every perfect beauty of which imagery is susceptible, has never been surpassed but imagery is sus ceptible of no beauty like that we have designated in the sentences above. The latter idea, moreover, is not original with our poet. In all the rhapsodies of Mr. Bryant, which have reference to the beauty or the majesty of nature, is a most audible and thrilling tone of love and exultation. As far as he appreciates her loveliness or her augustness, no appreciation can be more ardent, more full of heart, more replete with the glowing soul of adoration. Nor, either in the moral or physical universe coming within the periphery of his vision, does he at any time fail to perceive and designate, at once, the legitimate items of the beautiful. Therefore, could we consider (as some have considered) the mere enjoyment of the beautiful when perceived, or even this enjoyment when combined with the readiest and truest perception and discrimination in regard to beauty presented, as a sufficient test of the poetical sentiment, we could have no hesitation in according to Mr. Bryant the very highest poetical rank. But something more, we have elsewhere presumed to say, is demanded. Just above, we spoke of objects in the moral or physical universe coming within the periphery of his vision." We now mean to say, that the relative extent of these peripheries of poetical vision must ever be a primary consideration in our classification of poets. Judging Mr. B. in this manner, and by a general estimate of the volume before us, we should, of course, pause long before assigning him a place with the spiritual Shelleys, or Coleridges, or Wordsworths, or with Keats, or even Tennyson, or Wilson, or with some other burning lights of our own day, to be valued in a day to come. Yet if his poems, as a whole, will not warrant us in assigning him this grade, one such poem as the last upon which we have commented, is enough to assure us that he may attain it. The writings of our author, as we find them here, are characterized by an air of calm and elevated contemplation more than by any other individual feature. In their mere didactics, however, they err essentially and primitively, inasmuch as such things are the province rather of Minerva than of the Camenae. Of imagination, we discover much - but more of its rich and certain evidences, than of its ripened fruit. In all the minor merits Mr. Bryant is pre-eminent. His ars celare artem is most efficient. Of his "completeness," unity, and finish of style we have already. spoken. As a versifier, we know of no writer, living or dead, who can be said greatly to surpass him. A Frenchman would assuredly call him "un poëte des plus correctes." Between Cowper and Young, perhaps, (with both of whom he has many points of analogy,) would be the post assigned him by an examination at once general and superficial. Even in this view, however, he has a juster appreciation of the beautiful than the one, of the sublime than the other a finer taste than Cowper- an equally vigorous, and far more delicate imagination than Young. In regard to his proper rank among American poets there should be no question whatever. Few at least few who are fairly before the public, have more than very shallow claims to a rivalry with the author of Thanatopsis. NOTE: For other reviews of Bryant, see Vols. VIII., X., and XII. - ED. VOL. IX.-20 ADDRESS ON THE SUBJECT OF A SURVEYING AND EXPLORING EXPEDITION TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND SOUTH SEAS. DELIVERED IN THE HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES ON the Evening of April, 3, 1836. BY J. N. Reynolds. WITH CORRESPONDENCE AND DOCUMENTS. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY HARPER AND BROTHERS. [Southern Literary Messenger, January, 1837.] In the Messenger for last August we spoke briefly on this head. What we then said was embraced in the form of a Critical Notice on the " Report (March 21, 1836,) of the Committee on Naval Affairs to whom were referred Memorials from sundry citizens of Connecticut interested in the Whale Fishery, praying that an exploring expedition be fitted out to the Pacific Ocean and South Seas." It is now well known to the community that this expedition, the design of which has been for ten years in agitation, has been authorized by Congress; sanctioned, and liberally provided for, by the Executive; and will almost immediately set sail. The public mind is at length thoroughly alive on the subject, and, in touching upon it now, we merely propose to give, if possible, such an outline of the history, object, and nature of the projet, as may induce the reader to examine, for himself, the volume whose title forms the heading of this article. Therein Mr. Reynolds has embodied a precise and full account of the whole matter, with every necessary document and detail. In beginning we must necessarily begin with Mr. Reynolds. He is the originator, the persevering and |