IN the four quarters of the globe who reads an American book ? SYDNEY SMITH. A.D. 1820. The public expectation, which had been raised so high by the character of CHANNING'S earliest performances, was continually excited and fulfilled by the appearance of some new and earnest expression of his thoughts on religion, government, and literature, in their widest sense and application. JOHN JAMES TAYLER. A.D. 1845. The hearts of all warmed toward AUDUBON who were capable of conceiving the difficulties, dangers, and sacrifices, that must have been encountered, endured, and overcome, before genius could have embodied these, the glory of its innumerable triumphs. JOHN WILSON (“ Christopher North "). A.D. 18—. The empire of the sea has been conceded to him (COOPER) by acclamation; in the lonely desert, or untrodden prairie, among the savage Indians or scarcely less savage settlers, we equally acknowledge his dominion. THE EDINBURGH REVIEW. A.D. 1835. We have caught ourselves, oftener than we shall confess, neglecting his (IRVING's) excellent matter, to lap ourselves in the liquid music of his periods, and letting ourselves float passively down the mellow windings of his soft-flowing sentences. FRANCIS, LORD Jeffrey. A.D. 1822. The names of COOPER, CHANNING, and WASHINGTON IRVING, indeed, amply demonstrate that the American soil is not wanting in genius of the most elevated and fascinating character. The verses of BRYANT come as assuredly from "the well of English undefiled" as the finer compositions of Mr. Wordsworth. .. It is quite idle to set up for America the benefit of a young language: she does not require it. She can stand upon her own ground THE RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW. London. A.D. 1824. even now. The great historian of the New World, who has scarcely a rival in the Old one,-the excellent PRESCOTT. |