PREFACE.
The following work is the result of an attempt to do
something for the cause of American literature, by
calling into notice and preserving a portion of what
is valuable and characteristic in the writings of our
native poets. As a pursuit of mere literary curiosity,
there exist no ordinary inducements to the prosecution
of such an enterprise, but when we take into
view the influence which an endeavor like this, to rescue
from oblivion the efforts of native genius must necessarily
have upon the state of letters among us, we
shall have occasion to wonder that an undertaking of
the kind has not sooner been entered upon. The
truth is, that our neglect upon this point is in some
degree a matter of reproach to us. The literary
productions of our fathers have been held in unwarrantable
disesteem by their descendants, who have reason
to pride themselves upon the monuments of genius
and learning left them by preceding generations.
What though our early literature cannot boast of a
Dante or a Chaucer, it can furnish such testimonials
of talent and mental cultivation as are highly creditable
to the country, and of sufficient interest to call upon
the attention of those who are desirous of tracing the
general history of letters, and their connexion with the
development of the moral and intellectual character
of a people; while to us, as Americans, they possess a
double value, and deserve to be cherished, as the inheritance
of a race whose virtues have consecrated whatever
they have left behind them. Again, everything
published among us must have some value, if not on
account of its intrinsic merits, at least as affording some
insight into the spirit and temper of the times, and
illustrating the degree of social and mental improvement
in the community. Hitherto we have paid too little
regard to our native literature in this last relation, and
while the polite letters of foreign countries have been
studied in such a philosophical view by the most
accomplished scholars of our land, the same interesting
field of observation at home has been overlooked.
We have known men familiar with the details of
Tiraboschi, Bouterwek and Sismondi, who had hardly
bestowed a thought upon the most gifted spirits of the
soil where they were born and bred: as if the poets of
the western world could not bear some characteristic
traits of their day and generation as well as the
Minnesingers and Trouvéres; or as if a lay of the
pilgrim fathers of New England could not illustrate a
point of national or individual character as effectually
as the Gongorism of the Castilian rhymesters of old.
This is surely a preposterous state of things. What
has been produced in the shape of literature among us
merits regard. It must furnish something worthy of
note in respect to the intellectual character of our
nation. If it exhibit no marks of originality, it must
show something of imitation, and it cannot but interest
us to know the fact, for even that must have its
significance.
The object, therefore, of the work which I here
present to the public, is to answer, so far as my opportunities
would enable me to do it, the demand which
has already been manifested, to know in a general and
comprehensive view, what has been done in the department
of poetry by American writers. Thus far we
have seen no such thing as a collection of American
poetry designed for such a purpose, nor a treatise
designating with fulness and accuracy, the character
of the various performances in verse of our native
authors, nor even a tolerably complete list of their
names. We are now becoming a literary people, and
are already inquisitive upon all matters connected with
our character and prospects in that relation. We begin
to show a national spirit in letters, and deem it important
not only to exhibit to the world what manner of
men we are, but to cast an eye upon those who
preceded us in the career of literary improvement, and
look seriously into the grounds of the insinuation thrown
out some years ago by our neighbors across the ocean,
that there was no such thing as an American book
worthy of being read. Our countrymen have done
sufficient since that period to free us from the apprehension
that the charge will be repeated; still it is a
matter of interest to inquire whether nothing had been
achieved before the days of Irving and Cooper and
Pierpont and Percival, or whether, on the contrary,
there were brave men living before Agamemnon.
I have endeavored to perform the task of supplying
what seemed a desideratum. Whatever may be the
estimation set upon my labors, I have the pleasure of
presenting my countrymen with a collection of matter
which no one can deny to be highly honorable to the
land of our birth. The American reader will learn
with surprise and gratification that a body of literature
so respectable under all circumstances, as that contained
in the following pages, can be gathered from the writings
of our native authors. If, as I flatter myself, they
may succeed so far as to make us better acquainted
with the master spirits of our literature, and of consequence
lead us to a more exalted appreciation of
the intellectual capabilities of our countrymen, I shall
reap a full reward for my exertions, in the reflection
of having assisted in fostering a national spirit in a
department, where, until such a spirit prevails, neither
ourselves, nor the world will do full credit to the principles
of our institutions, or the genius of our people.
That I have done entire justice to my task, I will not
pretend. Were it allowed an author to go into a detail
of the disadvantages under which he sets about his
work, for the purpose of excusing its faults, I could
furnish without difficulty in the present instance, a
catalogue sufficient to account for the imperfections
which I cannot help foreseeing, will be charged
against these volumes. But with the greater part of a
writer's disabilities or disadvantages, the world has no
concern, and very properly will not suffer them to be
pleaded in excuse for the defects which mar his productions.
I shall therefore speak only of the difficulties
inseparable from the present undertaking. I allude
chiefly to the collection of the materials for the work.
When it is considered, that nothing similar to this enterprise
has ever before been attempted, the reader must
be aware of the laborious nature of the researches
necessary to be made. The whole collection of American
literature was to be explored minutely without
guide or direction, and the difficulty of such a task can
be estimated only by those who have attempted something
similar. There was no where, as I before remarked,
even a tolerably accurate list of American
authors. Their works were scattered as diversely as
the leaves of the Sybil, and many of them were about
as easily to be procured. We have no collections of
them in public libraries,
and some had become so completely
forgotten that I was indebted in many cases to
accident for their discovery. The ommissions therefore
which may be discerned in these volumes the
reader I trust will ascribe to the right cause. For inaccuracies
in the biographical department, should any
be discovered, I must plead for a similar indulgence.
The best authorities however have been applied to for
this species of information, and I feel confident in asserting
that it may in general be relied upon. In the case of
many of the most important subjects, the facts have
been furnished by the authors themselves, in others, by
their relations, or intimate associates. The additions
thus made to the stock of biography by this original
matter, forms not the least valuable portion of the work.
The plan upon which the latter part has been executed,
will, it is hoped, meet the general approbation,
although, perhaps, somewhat different from what the
public had been led to expect. It was thought best
upon mature consideration, to extend the work down to
the present day, and embrace within it every one who
had written with credit. On account of the rapid extension
of literature among us within a short period,
a fair representation could not in any other way be given
of what we are likely to accomplish.
It will be perceived that I have left out the drama.
It was originally intended to include all the dramatic productions
in verse, but having learnt that a History of the
American Stage was preparing by one who has been
long conversant with the subject, and who possesses peculiar
advantages for such a business, I deemed it most
advisable to leave that part of the field untouched.
It remains for me to speak of the assistance which I
have received in the course of my labors, and of the
obligations due from me to those gentlemen who have
so kindly lent me their aid in various shapes. Some
of the biography and criticism, has been furnished by
other hands. This will account for those slight discrepancies
of opinion, which may be detected in two
or three different pieces. To Mr Frederic S. Hill,
who in the outset took the editorial charge of the
work, I am indebted for all which relates to Mather,
Wolcott, Wigglesworth, Colman, Mrs Turell, Adams
and J. Osborn. A few other articles are also the
contributions of my friends. For the general character
of these portions of the work, however, I hold myself
responsible.
In selecting the specimens it will be observed that I
have extracted pretty liberally from the volumes of
some of our most distinguished writers. It seemed
the most eligible method to give entire pieces of some
length, when this could be done advantageously, rather
than short and detached portions of different poems.
I have in all cases where it was practicable, applied to
the authors for permission to make such an appropriation
of their writings, and this they have in every
instance been so obliging as to grant.
Under the persuasion that the American public will
look with indulgence upon the effort here shown to
turn their attention to the literature and talent of their
own countyr, I now submit these volumes to their
inspection. The undertaking is one which I think
they cannot but contemplate with interest. With what
degree of credit I have aquitted myself of the charge,
it remains for them to determine.
S. K.
Boston, April, 1829.
