long been admitted to exist between the two vocations; both involve similar laws of expression and principles of taste; and the advantage to a critic of literature of artistic knowledge may thence be easily inferred. mit that the shrines of genius would be neglected but for the priests before the altar, and the streams of truth unfrequented did no angel of sympathy trouble the waters. Paradise Lost was only read by scholars until Addison pointed out its sublimities; Carlyle and Mrs. Austin introduced German literature to the English; Schlegel, revealed Shakspeare to Germany; a lectureship was founded centuries ago to illustrate Dante; and the spirit of our own age is most significantly reflected in its criticism. The The controversial experience of his youth and his intercourse in manhood with the most accomplished and original minds gave not only facility to his power of expression by enriching his vocabulary; but induced quickness of inference, discursive illustrations, and, especially, that pungent vigor and brilliancy that ofter render his A striking trait of the best modern criticism is lectures and essays a remarkable union of the a certain re-productive intelligence that seems to colloquial and the didactic in style. Thus, from fuse into new and more impressive combinathe study of art, he derived the picturesque ele- tions the elements of every subject. ment, and from society the genial vivacity which amount of positive information in the literary combine to give their peculiar life and freshness histories of Tiraboschi, Sismondi and other chroto his criticisms. He dilates on an author or a niclers of national literature, of itself redeems painter as a living reality, and as though he had their critical labors from a secondary value; the just parted company with them, and not only divergent streams of thought, the latent analogy carried away his mind full of their ideas, but his of language, the gradual rise and progress of frame charged with their magnetism, which the literary development of a race from the seems to glide from his fingers as he writes, and crudest ballad to the most finished drama are scintillates with every dash of the pen. Hence the great individuality of his portraits, the familiar air of his communications, and the intimate companionship which his discussion of favorite subjects evinces. problems that involve a degree of research and philosophy which only the highest order of minds can fully exercise. But even in the minor and isolated specimens of criticism-the offspring of the modern review, we often find that The freedom of Hazlitt's comments upon liv- the writer has explored carefully every available ing authors both in the journals and lecture- source of knowledge, and that his article not rooms, has often given offence to delicate minds; only sagaciously estimates the particular book his political antagonists have repudiated his au- under notice, but remoulds and revivifies the subthority with scorn; and men addicted to the ject itself by new facts, principles and illustramerely artistic and timid phases of literature tions blended, by an efficient rhetoric, into a masseem too much disconcerted by his intrepidity of terly exposition. It is, therefore, unjust to sneer thought and style to endorse his claims to admi- at the age as more critical than productive, beration. To these causes we ascribe the some- cause the creative and analytical now unite their what inconsistent reputation he possesses. It is forces, and mutually give birth to discussions on the natural consequence of originality. If we society, art, literature and politics, which nomitrace, however, the history of English criticism, nally appear as criticisms—a word that has now we shall find that with Hazlitt began a new era; quite eclipsed its original signification. Any and whatever may be our opinion of his esti- volume of the British Essayists of the present mates of individual writers and artists, it must century will justify the scope thus assigned to the be conceded that his method of treating their office of critic. Each seems to have completely productions-that is, with fearless and sympa- grasped a particular subject and become its rethetic reflection—is an immense advance upon cognized expositor. Thus Southey has illustrathe prescriptive and technical course once in ted Methodism, and Stephens Catholicism, with vogue. Indeed Hazlitt deserves to be consider- the knowledge of theologians, and the liberality ed a reformer in criticism; and at a period when of philosophers. At no period, indeed, have so this branch of literature has risen to such impor- many enlightened minds attained a disinterested tance, this implies no ordinary merit. The uti-position; and hence the freedom and spirit of lity of appreciative minds is seldom recognized; popular criticism. to interpret is thought to demand far inferior There is one characteristic of the genuine critic powers than to create; and yet when we reflect apt to be disregarded by superficial inquirers, yet that works of genius demand a concentrated absolutely essential and possessed by Hazlitt in attention which only thinkers can bestow; when an eminent degree. It is that psychological tenwe remember how dull are the sensibilities of dency and habit of introspection through which we the multitude and how absorbed they are with become cognizant of the operations of the mind the immediate and the temporary—we must ad- and the influence of nature and literature, art The very subjects of his critical essays amply prove this remarkable versatility. "A Portrait by Vandyck" suggests pages of analytical comment and eloquent description. "Persons One Would Wish To Have Seen," unfolds a theory of social affinity equally marked by liberal feeling and iudividuality of taste. In one paper he explains the scholar's reserve and in another the promptitude and tact of the man-of-the-world; now defines and life on the soul. Thus criticism includes | Characters"-which though ostensibly dramatic philosophy, and the appreciation of books a criticism, is, in point of fact, a work on the phiknowledge and love of humanity. This requi-losophy of life and human nature-more sugsite is usually superseded by extensive erudition; gestive and legitimate than many approved textand Hazlitt's lack of great scholarship was a books on the subject; the striking portraits in benefit to him in this regard. Few authors more the "Spirit of the Age" and many of the disclearly discussed the just relation of thought to tinctions pointed out in the criticisms on the action. With all his passionate love of talent, English Poets and Novelists are referable to the whether manifested in a poem or on the stage, same qualities. It impelled him also to record by an orator or an Indian juggler, in the lines his personal impressions of gifted men, to note of the burin or the fresco-painting of an old mas- the conversation of Northcote, and to analyze, ter,-Hazlitt perfectly understood the compara- with so much zest and acuteness, the pleasure tive worth of the practical and the imaginative, derivable from the Fine Arts. of physical enterprise and artistic skill. Thus he frequently frets, like the meditative prince, at his own want of aptitude for affairs, and laments that aspiration, heroism and the instinct of reform should “lose the name of action;" asserts that a happy man with a good digestion never writes poetry, and that a peasant girl collecting stones in a field, is a more harmonious being than a nervous, brain-weary author speculating upon life instead of enjoying it. In this vein he is often paradox- the philosophical, and now the practical characical; yet the freedom it indicates from the nar- ter; here re-produces the delight Poussin experowness and egotism of authorship, proves a rienced in painting a landscape, and there the rewider range of observation and a larger sympa- morseful horrors which unnerved Macbeth. The thy than generally belong to the professed lit- idiosyncracies of the actor, the poet, the artist, erary critic. Hazlitt's admiration of Napoleon the orator and the theorist were as familiar to is equal in degree, though different in kind, to him as the materials in his laboratory to the that he cherished for Shakspeare; and the home-chemist. He delved amid the elements of huly truth to nature in Hogarth gave him as keen, manity and tested them in the crucible of thought though a diverse enjoyment as the splendid col- and by the fire of imagination. He never forgot oring of Titian. This universality does not spring that nature and genius are primal, exhaustless exclusively from a catholic taste; it is rather the and divine; and was not to be kept from the infruit of an introspective mind. At the outset of timate enjoyment of either by the conventionalihis career, he wrote a treatise on "The Princi- ties of life, or the authority of learning. Wherples of Human Actions." His metaphysical in-ever they appeared-in the literature of the past, sight was quite as remarkable as his eye for the or the gifts of a contemporary, in books or on picturesque; and to the vigilant watch over his canvass, in the sparkle of an evening colloquy, own mental experience-to the study of his own or the full tide of parliamentary eloquence-in consciousness as affected by passion, truth and character or form, sound or color, in felicity of intellectual agencies, he owes, in no small de- language or originality of ideas-Hazlitt welgree, that nicety of view, and clearness of im-comed them with cordial zeal and held them up pression, which he so eloquently unfolds. In- to intelligent admiration. In spite, therefore, of deed, "thinking too precisely" is the cause of minor defects of taste, unjustifiable prejudice most of his errors in opinion and much of his unhappiness as a man. It is not surprising that he sometimes looked with envy on the absorbing career of the statesman and the soldier. There The most common error in criticism is excluis such a thing as anatomizing the soul, by an ex- sive reliance on knowledge. Thus many percess of reflection and sensibility; and no thought- sons imagine they wholly comprehend a statue ful reader can peruse the Liber Amoris of Haz- when they have mastered its anatomical details; litt without the deepest pity-realizing how the and while the spectator of poetic sympathies is very superiority of a man's nature may occasion lost in wonder at the expression of the Apollo his greatest infelicity by the exaggerated feeling Belvidere, the merely scientific observer is intent that imagination and sentiment cast around un- upon discovering a want of proportion in its exworthy objects. In its healthier action this met- tremities. Knowledge is only a part of the critaphysical tendency proved an inspiration. To it ic's preparation. It is, indeed, a desirable enwe owe the masterly analysis of "Shakspeare's lightenment to be informed that "in the group and hasty opinions, he enacted the part of an appreciative mind on a broader scale and with greater efficiency than any of the English critics. different endowments; and when one usurps the office of the other the effect is pitiable. Both are indispensable to the true critic. They were unusually blended in Hazlitt and gave him both insight and catholicity. of the Laocoon, the breast is expanded and the Wordsworth, Racine and Shakspeare. Comthroat contracted to show that the agonies that mon sense and the sense of beauty are totally convulse the frame are borne in silence;" but whoever stops here and has not the capacity to enter into the moral significance of the work, derives but an inadequate idea of its meaning. Neither is a readiness to discover faults any test of critical ability well understood. It has been A comprehensive turn of mind is not less imjustly said that “we only work our way into ex-portant to the critic than a lively sense of corcellence by being imprisoned in defects." It re-rectness in detail. Without it he can scarcely quires no great discernment to perceive that estimate the influence of the age of a writer or Shakspeare often commits gross errors of taste, artist upon his genius. There is, indeed, a spebut it needs a great soul to appreciate his vast cies of criticism that is purely historical-such humanity; hundreds are offended by the sternness as the elaborate works of Hallam, Mensel, and of Dante where one really feels his noble dignity; others; and the light thrown by these dissertathe most superficial rhymer can be annoyed at tions upon philosophy and the intellectual prothe conceits of Petrarch, while the genuine sen-gress of the race, show how extensive are the timent requisite to enjoy his sonnets, is extremely relations of the critical art. Modified as this is by rare; every one perceives that Alfieri's style is individual peculiarities, it yet touches the entire severe, but few that it is also sublime; Richter's horizon of life as revealed in history. Pictures of heart-wisdom is as characteristic as his want of the manners, a reflection of the spirit, or an emmethod and congruity; and it is easier to be dis-bodiment of the learning of an epoch, such as gusted with the vanity of Rousseau and Lamar- the master-pieces of literature usually contain, are tine than to thoroughly apprehend the poetry of their minds. It is characteristic of Hazlitt to blend cordial eulogy with judicious fault-finding, and to look at a subject in its relative and absolute qualities. intelligible only by the collateral aids of science and history. Thus it often requires a union of scholarship and acuteness, of mental sympathy and vigorous reflection to attain the highest and most profound criticism. Ulrici, Foscolo and To realize how needful is a just enlistment of other gifted men have won admiring laurels in this the sympathies, as well as a calm exercise of field of labor. The less philosophical, but equally judgment based on knowledge, in the highest genial exercise of the art by special critics of the criticism, we must remember that works of real day, is more tinged by individual temperament genius appeal to the soul-to the entire con- and culture. Thus the animal spirits of Wilson, sciousness; and if the intellect and the memory the classic taste of Landor, the metaphysical alone respond, it is obvious that the criticism is tendency of Coleridge, the religious opinions of incomplete. Allston says of an artist, that "he John Foster, and the eclecticism of Brougham, bore the attack of his assailants with the equa- give a peculiar character to their critical estinimity of one who well knew that the ground he mates. It is common to speak of this kind of stood upon was not the quicksand of self-love." writing as ephemeral; yet we believe its noblest A great truth is implied in this fact;—that genu- specimens will outlive all but the highest class of ine appreciation is somewhat akin to love-a fictions and many of the merely fluent historical kind of voluntary self-abnegation; and that pride narratives at present so renowned. Next to the of opinion must be renounced and the subject auto-biography of original men, there is no legacy fill the heart as well as the mind of the critic. so precious to ardent and discerning minds, as "Love," says Shakspeare, "lends a precious their recorded thoughts and sentiments in referseeing to the eye." When thus inspired our very ence to works of human genius, which are a comsenses appear renewed. Not a latent grace, or mon and perpetual inheritance, and a nucleus significant hint, or moral charm is lost upon us. for the noblest sympathies of all generations. Our attention is fairly aroused, our perception The scope of Hazlitt's mental sympathies was quickened; we follow every note of the singer, remarkable when we consider the tenacity of his detect every line and hue of the landscape and opinions. So fixed are the tastes of most wriconsciously receive every image and sentiment ters, that we can usually predict their critical apof the bard. "The longer you live," said Go- titudes with certainty. Indeed the editor of a ethe, "the more you will see how few men are successful modern review, knows exactly which capable of understanding the law of a produc- member of his literary circle will do full justice tion." Objective and merely technical criticism to each especial work; and we recognize a natualways gives evidence of this; yet we see men ral adaptation on the part of most authors to cerof excellent sense in practical things, absurdly tain departments of criticism; it is, to take an inapplying the same canons of taste to Pope and stance near home, quite appropriate for Channing "Atlantis," or the Isles of the Blest. 'Mid the sparkling waves of the distant West, A cloudless and beautiful country lies. That unknown land!-it sometimes seems, to have illustrated the character of Fenelon, | authors, artists and characters he loves, is not a and Dana the acting of Kean. Where mere piece of conventional formality; nor is it done verbal details are to be sifted, a writer like Cro- merely with intelligence and tact, but with an ker is available; but the memoirs of an old painter ardor that warms the sympathies, and a directwould elicit more genial comment from Mrs. ness that compels recognition. Jameson. There is no branch of authorship to which division of labor has been more wisely applied than that of criticism. Yet we sometimes find a critic who not only appreciates widely diverse kinds of literature, but accepts the desirable and repudiates the offensive in each. This is the true distinction between prejudice and opinion; in nearly all but philosophical minds the former overlays and hinders the formation of the latter. The genuine critic, however, while condemning the misanthropy of Byron, none the less warmly appreciates his intensity; though cloyed by the dulcet numbers of Metastasio, is yet fully sensible of his lyric melody; if disgusted with the meretricious in Moore, at the same time enjoys his musical triumphs over the harshness of our vernacular. To understand how complete was the scale of Hazlitt's judgment, and how, if needful, it could modify his enthusiasm, we have only to compare the exuberant tone and freshness of his account of a "first acquaintance with poets," with the cool estimate he afterwards placed upon intellectual pleasures, in asserting that “we put that which flutters the brain idly, for a moment, in competition with nature which exists everywhere and lasts always." The cause of his frequent disparagement of literary labors and success, however, is often to be found in the fact that circumstances made that a necessity to him which should only have been a recreation. Hazlitt reading a favorite author on a summer day in an inn, or spontaneously writing his earnest tributes to the beauty and eternal worth of genius, is one thing; and Hazlitt drawn by a pitiless journalist from a haunt of dissipation, and spurred by want and what is "set down in the bond" to write, is quite another. An obvious reason for a certain ultraism that pervades his articles, is a want of elasticity or rather gaiety in his nature. To be effective he must be serious. Utterly destitute of humor, although keenly alive to genuine wit, he treated everything gravely, and hence was apt to exaggerate whatever view he espoused. We consider this fault aton ed for, however, by the superior vigor which a thoughtful and earnest spirit always imparts to every discussion. When a voluntary critic, Hazlitt's relation to his subject was vital; his genius, though sometimes fitful, was never languid. "It is a very good office," we are told, "one man does another when he tells him the manner of his being pleased." And this is an office which no English critic has discharged with the ability of Hazlitt. His introduction of readers to the I have felt the breath of its scented breeze, "Twas a joy to pause by the Lake's green side- Those whispered strains float by me now- Methinks when wild Fancy hath mounted high, I have traced in that shadowy clime of bliss, Charleston, S. C. P. H. H. AN EXCURSION IN IRELAND. MADE DURING LAST AUTUMN BY A YOUNG AMERICAN. suppose, it is ruining even those who have property. A gentleman, seated at my side on the car, told me that he saw twenty tons of hay sold not long ago for £15 to pay poor rates, and a horse worth in ordinary times £10 sold for three shillings! England. were saving at the spigot of the barrel they have been losing at the bung-hole. Again, there is a system of under-letting practised all over the country, which has proved bad in its results. The original lessee has had leases under him; he Reader, if you have a map of Ireland at hand, leases to the laborer a patch of ground large you had better take it up and follow me as I make enough to plant his yearly supply of potatoes; the circuit of the Emerald Isle as far as Dublin, upon this crop the poor laborer lives the year and you will see that I have accomplished a out; he feeds his family with it, and with it he great deal in sight-seeing for the short time I pays his rent to his lessor. Of course when the have been engaged at it. On Friday the 7th of potatoe crop fails the laborer and his family have September, at seven o'clock in the morning, we no means of living; they are turned out of their took the public mail-car, an open vehicle drawn huts and left by the road-side to die of hunger! by two horses, for the town of Tralle twenty The country in which Tralle is situated, is in miles, and the town of Farbat forty miles-the a very deplorable state; the poor rates are now last situated on the banks of the Shannon. Our ten shillings to the pound; and, as you may well journey lay through a very uninteresting and poverty-stricken country; the land every where seemed to be neglected. I have been endeavoring to satisfy my mind with regard to the causes of this blight, which seems to show itself all over Ireland. I am inclined to think that it is owing, in a great measure, to the system pursued of let- The same gentleman informed me that emiting out land upon short leases,-in other words gration to the United States would be greater the oppression of tenants by the proprietors of than ever next year, that the best farmers in the the land. These last have, for hundreds of country were preparing to leave, and that at this years, been in the habit of letting their lands time Irishmen knew more of America than of on small leases; and, when the farmer has improved the land and the former lease expires, it In the afternoon we reached the village of has been the practice to demand an exhorbitant Sardieu, a collection of fishermen's huts on the price for the renewal of the lease, or force the banks of the Shannon. We here engaged a boat tenant to quit possession. This practice has to take us across the river to Kilrush, having naturally brought in the end evil consequences; changed our purpose of visiting Tarbat. We the farmer reasons well when he says that so were obliged to wait an hour for the tide to allong as the system of short leases continues and low our getting off; this hour we occupied in long leases are refused, he will not bestow his visiting a very old ruinous abbey near by—Distoil and labor in the improvement of land, from locton abbey. We found the old ruin a very fine which he is liable at the end of his labors to be one, and one of the Gothic windows in good ousted; and the consequence is that, while the preservation. The interior was, however, loathproprietor, who generally spends his time in some in the extreme, being literally filled with England, is amusing himself, his property is human skulls and bones, and pieces of coffins. going to ruin, till at last he finds himself, as well These bones I doubt not had been bleachas his neighbors who have pursued the same ing there for centuries. On our return I visitcourse, absolutely bankrupt—which is the con- ed oue of the Irish cabins near the shore, and dition of most of the landed proprietors of Ire- found a woman, the mother of three children, land at this present time. But you may ask if boiling sea-weed for supper. She told me this is not an evil which should have cured itself? that sea-weed was all that she and her family in other words, if the proprietor found that he had to live upon. She stated also that the was going to ruin with the system of short leases, "Relief" occasionally gave her a little Indian why has he not adopted that of long leases? meal, but that she had nothing to count upon To this it may be replied-first, that a greater from one day to another. I left the cabin, and part of the land is forbidden, by the terms of the soon met a boy who asked for a half penny, and grant, to be leased on long terms; and, second, told me that he had eaten nothing but raw cabthat the proprietors, most of them, are extrava-bage since the evening before. Another cabin I gant in their habits, constantly pressed for mo- entered and found a woman weeping because ney, and the system of short leases i. e. the she had nothing to feed her children with. We power they have of raising the price of new at last got off in our fishing smack and sailed leases on their tenants-gives them for the mo- over the Shannon nine miles to Kilrush, passing ment more ready cash: although, in the end, as on our right one of the famous "round, stone the result now shows, they find that while they towers" which are to be met with all over Ireland, VOL. XVI-12 |