A HETT EDMONDS WILLIAM GILMORE SIMMS, LL.D. STEADILY growing reputation for almost twenty years, justified by the gradually increasing evidence of those latent, exhaustless, ever-unfolding energies which belong to genius, has inwoven the name of Simms with the literature of America, and made it part of the heirloom which our age will give to posterity. Asking and desiring nothing to which he could not prove himself justly entitled, he has wrested a reputation from difficulty and obstacle, and conquered an honorable acknowledgment from opposition and indifference. Even if we had not proofs of genius in the treasury of thought and imagination constituted by his writings, still the nobility of the example of energy, perseverance, and high-toned hopefulness, which he has given, would deserve a grateful homage. William Gilmore Simms is the second, and VOL. V.-NO. IV.-28 only surviving, of three brothers, sons of William Gilmore Simms, and Harriet Ann Augusta Singleton. His father was of a ScotchIrish family, and his mother of a Virginia stock, her grandparents having removed to South Carolina long before the Revolution, in which they took an active part on the Whig side. He was born on the 17th of April, 1806. His mother died when he was an infant. His father, failing in business as a merchant, removed first to Tennessee, and then to Mississippi. While in Tennessee he volunteered and held a commission in the army of Jackson (in Coffee's brigade of mounted men), which scourged the Creeks and Seminoles after the massacre of Fort Mims. Our author, left to the care of a grandmother, remained in Charleston, where he received an education which circumstances rendered exceedingly limited. He was denied a classical training, but such characters stand little in need of the ordinary aids of the schoolmaster, and, with indomitable application, he has not only stored his mind with the richest literature, but has received an unsolicited tribute to his diligence and acquisitions, in the degree of Doctor of Laws, conferred upon him by the respectable University of Alabama. At first it was designed that he should study medicine, but his inclination led him to the law. He was admitted to the bar of South Carolina when twenty-one, practised for a brief period, and became part proprietor of a daily newspaper, which, taking ground against nullification, ruined him-swallowing up a small maternal property, and involving him in a heavy debt which hung upon and embarrassed him for a long time after. In 1832, he first visited the North, where he published Atalantis. Martin Faber followed in 1834, and periodically the long catalogue of his subsequent performances. press. Two other volumes of poems followed, The first novel of Mr. Simms belonged to our border and domestic history. This was Guy Rivers; and to the same class he has contributed largely, in Richard Hurdis, Border Beagles, Beauchampe, Helen Halsey, and other productions. In historical romance, he has written The Yemassee, the Damsel of Darien, Pelayo, and Count Julian, each in two volumes. The scenes of the two last are laid in Europe. His romances founded on our re champe, and The Kinsmen. In biography and history, he is the author of The Life of Marion; The Life of Captain John Smith, founder of Virginia; a History of South Caro lina; a Geography of the same State; a Life of Bayard; and a Life of General Greene. There are few writers who have exhibited such versatility of powers, combined with vigor, originality of copious and independent ideas, and that faculty of condensation which frequently by a single pregnant line suggests an expansive train of reflection. As a poet, he unites high imaginative powers with metaphysical thought-by which we mean that large discourse of reason which generalizes, and which seizes the universal, and perceives its relations to individual phenomena of nature and psychology. His poems abound in appropriate, felicitous, and original similes. His keen and fresh perception of nature, fur-volutionary history, are The Partisan, Mellinishes him with beautiful pictures, the truthfulness and clearness of which are admirably presented in the lucid language with which they are painted, and, in his expression of deep personal feelings, we find a noble union of sad emotion and manliness of tone. He draws from a full treasury of varied experience, active thought, close observation, just and original reflection, and a spirit which has drank deeply and lovingly from the gushing founts of nature. His inspiration is often kindled by the sunny and luxuriant scenery of the beautiful region to which he was born, and besides the freshness and glow which this imparts to his descriptive poetry, it makes him emphatically the poet of the South. Not only has he sung her peculiar natural aspects with the appreciation of a poet and the feeling of a son, but he has a claim to her gratitude for having enshrined in melodious verse her ancient and fading traditions. It is impossible to enumerate accurately his poetical productions, as many, published in periodicals, have never been printed together; but the collection of his poems now in course of publication at Charleston, will supply a desideratum to the lovers of genuine American letters and art. Atalantis, Southern Passages and Pictures, Donna Florida, Grouped Thoughts and Scattered Fancies, Areytos, Lays of the Palmetto, The Cassique of Accube and other Poems, Norman Maurice, and The City of the Silent, constituting dis tinct volumes, are, however, well known. The orations of Mr. Simms, which have been published, comprise one delivered before the Erosophic Society of the Alabama University, entitled, The Social Principlethe true source of National Permanence; another before the town council and citizens of Aiken, South Carolina, on the Fourth of July, 1844, entitled, The Sources of American Independence; and one delivered before literary societies in Georgia, entitled Self-devel Mr. Simms commenced writing verses at a very early period. At eight years of age he rhymed the achievements of the American navy in the last war with Great Britain. At fifteen, he was a scribbler of fugitive verse for the newspapers, and before he was twentyone he had published two collections of miscellaneous poetry, which his better taste and prudence subsequently induced him to sup-opment. As a writer of criticism, Mr. Simms is evidence of the impression which his ability, known by numerous articles contributed to information, and high character have properiodicals; by a review of Mrs. Trolloppe, induced on his fellow citizens. the American Quarterly, and of Miss Martineau in the Southern Literary Messenger (both subsequently republished in pamphlets, and received with general approval), as well as by many others of equal merit-a selection from which, wholly devoted to American topics, has been published in two volumes, under the title of Views and Reviews in American History and Fiction. His intense intellectual activity, united with a habitually reflective and philosophical mode of thought, and unwearied laboriousness, enable him to accomplish an almost incredible amount of literary labor. The catalogue of his works which is subjoined, gives but an inadequate idea of what he has really performed; for multifarious productions, many of them of the highest order in their respecScarcely a production of Mr. Simms has tive classes, are scattered in the pages of pebeen unmarked by a cordial reception from riodicals, or still in manuscript; while the unthe best literary journals; and the praise of ceasing demands on his pen, with his arduous the London Metropolitan and Examiner-the editorship, prevent him from accomplishing former when under the conduct of Thomas many fruitful designs, whose inception he has Campbell, the latter of Albany Fonblanque hinted in various ways. To his intellectual -was generously bestowed, especially on At-gifts, he unites a brave, generous nature, a alantis, of which the Metropolitan said, "What has the most disappointed us is, that it is so thoroughly English: the construction, the imagery, and, with a very few exceptions, the idioms of the language, are altogether founded on our own scholastic and classical models;" and Fonblanque, in reviewing a tale by Simms, entitled, Murder will Out, said, "But all we intended to say about the originality displayed in the volume has been forgotten in the interest of the last story of the book, Murder will Out. This is an American ghost story, and, without exception, the best we ever read." Within our limits, we could not, with any justice, describe the whole course of its incident, and it is in that, perhaps, its most marvellous effect lies. It is the rationale of the whole matter of such appearances, given with fine philosophy and masterly interest. We never read any thing more perfect or more consummately told." kindly, and strong heart, a genial, impulsive, yet faithful and determined disposition, warm affection and friendship, a spirit to do and to endure, and a soul as much elevated above the petty envies and jealousies which too of ten deform the genus irritabile, as it is in large sympathy with the beautiful, the true, the just--with humanity and with nature. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF WORKS BY MR. SIMMS. P. 1. Lyrical and other Poems: 18mo. pp. 208, Charleston, Ellis & Neufville, 1827. 9. Early Lays: 12mo. pp. 108, Charleston, A. E. Miller, 1827. 3. The Vision of Cortes, and other Poems: Charleston, J. S. Burgess. 7. The Book of My Lady, a Melange : Phila., Key & Biddle, 1833. 9. The Yemassee, a Romance of Carolina: 2 vols., New-York, Har- 10. The Partisan, a Tale of the Revolution: 2 vols., New-York, Harper & Brothers, 1835. 11. Mellichampe, a Legend of the Santee: 2 vols., New-York, Harper & Brothers, 1836. 12. Martin Faber, and other Tales: a new edition, 2 vols., New-York, Harper & Brothers, 1836. 13. 14. Pelayo, a Story of the Goth: 9 vols., New-York, Harper & Brothers, 1838. Carl Werner, an Imaginative Story, with other Tales of the Imagi15. Richard Hurdis, or the Avenger of Blood, a Tale of Alabama : 2 vols., 16. Southern Passages and Pictures: 1 vol., New-York, G. Adlard, 1889. Philadelphia, Carey & Hart, 1838. 11: The Damsel of Darien: 2 vols., Philadelphia, Lea & Blanchard. nation: 2 vols., New-York, George Adlard, 1838. 18. Border Beagles, a Tale of Mississippi: 2 vols., Philadelphia, Carey & Hart, 1840, 19. 20. 21. The Kinsman, or the Black Riders of the Congaree: 9 vols., Philadelphia, Lea & Blanchard, 1841. chard. Confession, or the Blind Heart: 9 vols., Philadelphia, Lea & BlanBeauchampe, or the Kentucky Tragedy, a Tale of Passion: 2 vols., 22. History of South Carolina: 1 vol. 12mo., Charleston, Babcock & Co. 23. Geography of South Carolina: 1 vol. 12mo., Charleston, Babcock. 24. Life of Francis Marion: 1 vol., New-York, J. & H. G. Langley. 25. Life of Capt. John Smith, the Founder of Virginia: 1 vol., NewYork, Langley. Philadelphia, Lea & Blanchard, 1842. But the testimony of the critical press, or even of the successful sale of an author's works, is not so suggestive of merit as the fact that his productions have entered into the popular mind; and this tribute Mr. Simms has received in the fact that in regions which he has identified with legends created for them by his own genius, localities of his different incidents are pointed out with a sincere belief in their historical verity. The dramatic powers manifested in his novels, have been still more largely displayed in his Norman Maurice, a play of singular originali- 28. Views and Reviews in American History, Literature and Art: 2 ty, in design, character, and execution, the ner-29. Life of Chev. Bayard: 1 vol., New-York, Harper & Brothers, 1848. Vous language and felicitous turns of expression in which remind us of the best of the old dramatists. We have heretofore expressed in the International a conviction that Norman Maurice is the best American drama that has yet been published-the most American, the most dramatic, the most original. As a member of the Legislature of his native State, and on various public occasions, Mr. Simms has vindicated a title to fame as an orator; and a recent nomination for the presidency of the South Carolina College, although he declined being a candidate, is an 26. Count Julian: 2 vols. 8vo., New-York, Taylor & Co., 1845. 97. The Wigwam and the Cabin: 2 vols., New-York, Wiley & Putnam, vols., New-York, Wiley & Putnam, 1846. 30. Donna Florida: I vol. 18mo., Charleston, Burgess & James, 1843. vol. 18mo., Richmond, McFarlane. 31. Grouped Thoughts and Scattered Fancies, a Collection of Sonnets: 1 32. Slavery in the South: 1 vol. 8vo., Richmond, McFarlane, 1831. 33. Russell, 1846. Araytos, or the Songs of the South: 1 vol. 12mo., Charleston, John 34. Lays of the Palmetto, a Tribute to the South Carolina Regiment in 35 Atalantis, a Story of the Sea, with the Eye and the Wing (Poems 36. Life of Nathaniel Greene: 12mo., New-York, Coolidge & Bro., 1849, the War with Mexico: 12 mo., Charleston, John Russell, 1848. chiefly Imaginative): 1 vol. 12mo., Carey & Hart, 1848. 37. Supplement to Writings of Shakspeare, Edited with Notes: (First collected edition) 1 vol. 8vo., New-York, Coolidge & Brothers. 38. The Social Principle, the true Secret of National Permanence, an 39. The Sources of American Independence, an Oration: 1844. Oration: 1842. 40. Self Development, an Oration: 1847. 41. Castle Dismal, a Novelette: 1 vol. 12mo., Burgess & Stringer. 42. Helen Halsey, 1 vol. 12mo., New-York, Burgess & Stringer. 43. Katherine Walton, or the Rebel of Dorchester, a Romance of the I's PETERSON & HUMPHREY'S CARPET HOUSE. THE PALACES OF TRADE. T were well if not only William B. Astor, Stephen Whitney, the heirs of Peter Stuyvesant (of blessed memory), and others who own real estate in this city, and likewise all mayors, common councilmen, and others in authority, were endued with more taste, with a higher regard to the general interest, and a juster sense of the matters that pertain to a good administration, so that it might be said in after times that the beneficence of the Creator (who in things natural has done more for ours than for any other city), had been seconded by the pious wisdom of the creature, and Manhattan pointed to as in all respects the metropolis of the world. Why not? If the very stones in the streets of London, Paris, and Vienna, were turned to pure gold, they would not purchase for those cities advantages that should be compared with such as we already possessed by our beautiful island-a giant mosaic, set in emerald, studding the bosom of Nature. Whatever may be said by our excellent neighbor, the minister of the dingy-looking red brick meeting-house round the corner, it is not less a work of piety to create any work of beauty-a beautiful house, or shop, or poem, for example-than to teach a class in the Sunday school,-which doctrine may be incidentally fortified from Jonathan Edwards's Theory of True Virtue, and more directly from the best philosophies of later years. It is ordered that the dignity of human nature shall in a great degree be dependent upon a sympathetic association with what is admirable. It was Hazlitt, we believe,-certainly it was some one who appreciatingly recog nized the highest earthly ministry,-who said it was impossible to entertain an angry feeling in the presence of a lovely woman's portrait,-which, done fitly, is the highest accomplishment of art. Whatever is beautiful or sublime has the same purifying and ennobling tendency. The beggars do shrewdly who sit in front of Stewart's. The same person who would give a shilling there, would as likely as not stear a penny from the hat of the blind man round the corner, where those detestable red bricks so outrage every principle known to a builder fit to handle the trowel. There is nothing more offensive than this custom of making of different materials the various fronts of the same edifice. It may be allowable to construct the rear of a house, or a side that is to be built against speedily, of a cheaper stone; but to make the face upon one street of marble, and the face around the corner of brick, as in the case of Stewart's store, and the Society Library, is an outrage as ridiculous as it would be to make alternate gores of a woman's skirt of Petersham and Brussels lace. Bricks are very respectable; we say nothing in their dispraise; but to any man of taste, an edifice is much more beautiful built entirely of bricks than it is with but one of two exposed parts of marble; and let us say to the affluent merchant to whom New-York is indebted for the structure just mentioned, that until he paints his bricks on Reade-street, so that they correspond as nearly as may be with his fronts on Chambers-street and Broadway, his store will indicate but a shabby gentility, an unnatural association of tow cloth and satin, copper and silver, poverty and riches, which should blush in the face of the most inferior exhibition of consistency. With the abolition of this strong contrast, the observer who goes down Broadway will contemplate with delight the classical air of this most imposing Palace of Trade that has yet been erected in the cities of the United States. How easily Broadway, for the money that its piles of brick and stone will have cost in ten years, might be made the most splendid street in Christendom, by a mere observance of the principles of taste and unity! In a little hamlet of five or fifteen hundred inhabitants, great buildings are out of place. In a city like ours, every thing should be in keeping, and the predominant principle should be the gigantesque. If the lot-holders from Bowling Green to the New Park would but consider the matter, with intelligent reference not only to the glory of the city but to their own profit; if each separate square were built as if it were one edifice (as, without any blending of property, it might be very easily), though these squares were all of plain brick, and no more costly than the wellknown row of stores in William-street, what an imposing spectacle they would present! But if one block were like the Astor House, the next like Stewart's (except only the Reade street front), the next a row of free-stone, the next one of brick, the next one of granite,-here a Gothic, there a Byzantine, then a Corinthian, then, if you please, as plain a front as that of the New-York Hotel-with here and there a church, library, lyceum, or art gallery, of a style less suitable for shops or dwellings, and there would be nothing in the world to compare with Broadway. But this running of democracy into the ground, this whim of every vulgar fellow who owns a front of twenty feet, that he must illustrate his independence by building on it in his own peculiar way, is baulking Providence, and for the full cost of magnificence confining us to tricksy meanness. Two or three years ago rose the chaste and simple front of 349 Broadway, in a row of decayed brick shops, which, it was hoped would give place to an entire range in imitation of the initial structure. But since then, the owner of a couple of adjoining lots-a Connecticut man probably has caused to be put up two stores of a different style, not of half the value of continuations of the less expensive edifice which they join. If instead of this patchwork, now planted here for half a century, there had been an extension of uniform stores from corner to corner-though either Beck's or the building we have mentioned had been the model-the single splendid edifice would have been a pride and boast of the city, and the separate stores would have been of much greater value than the best can be now. It is as revolting (and much |