PREFACE. ALTHOUGH this little volume contains the leading facts of Mr. Bryant's life, it does not pretend to be a complete biography, such as his family will doubtless cause to be written by some one to whom his private papers will be intrusted for that purpose. Such an extended work, if it appears, will present him as his friends wish him to be known and thought of by his fellow-men. This sketch is based upon an independent, and, it is hoped, an impartial judgment, of the man and the writer as his life and works display him to the world. If the picture contains more of light than of shade, it is because fact has fixed the proportion, and fidelity to truth requires a faithful reproduction. I am under obligation to several friends for important information concerning the details of the poet's life, and to his publishers-Messrs. D. Appleton & Co., G. P. Putnam's Sons, and Houghton & Osgood-for permission to make extracts from his works. These are, for the most part, of an autobiographical character; but some have been made to illustrate his prose style. Mr. Isaac Henderson, the publisher of "The New-York 204879 5 Evening Post," has also granted permission to make use of the articles published in that journal and in the memorial pamphlet reprinted from it. The political and journalistic career of Mr. Bryant has received less attention than the literary phase of his life, as being less important to the purpose of the series to which this volume belongs. The general design of the sketch will also explain the omission of some particulars which some readers may wish had been admitted to these pages. UNIVERSITY AT LEWISBURG, February, 1879. DAVID J. HILL. 1 CONTENTS. The Impressiveness of Bryant's Life.-Characteristics of his Life. Ancestry. - Dr. Peter Bryant.-The Poet's PAGE of his Inspirations. His Lifelong Delight in the Scenes of his Childhood. A Rigid Grandfather. - The Boys of the Poet's Youth. - Early School-Days. — The Key of his Life. 17 Poetic Aptitudes. - Earliest Verses. - Examples of Poetic Precocity. The Poet's own Opinion of Juvenile Verses. -Paternal Help.-First Printed Verses.- Character of these Early Efforts." The Embargo."-A Certificate of Authorship. - Other Poems.- Classical Studies. - Bot- any. Books and Reading.- Country Sports.-At Wil- liams College. Studies at Home.. -"The Genius of Legal Studies. -Admitted to the Bar. - Practice at Plain- field. The Lines "To a Waterfowl."- Removal to Great Barrington. - The Verses on "Green River.". Justice Bryant. - A Peculiar Ceremony. A Pen-Picture of the Poet.-Love and Love-Poetry. The Proclamation of the Banns. - Marriage. - Poems to Mrs. Bryant. "The Ages."-A Collection of Poems. - A Criticism. Hellenic Poems.-Verses on Indian Subjects. - Friends New York in 1825.-Gulian C. Verplanck. — Fitz-Greene Halleck. - James A. Hillhouse. - The Club. -"The New- York Review."-Magazine Literature in 1825.- Bryant Assistant Editor of "The Post."—"The Croaker Papers." -Character of "The Post" as a Newspaper. - Improve- ments in Journalism. - William Coleman. "The Talis- man."― Robert C. Sands. - Bryant's Correspondence with Irving. A troublesome Line of Poetry. - Bryant's Repu- First Impressions of France. - A Race of Fiddlers. - Nation- ernments. At Florence. - A Critic of Landscapes. - A PAGE William Leggett. - The Ideal Journalist.-The Fortunes of an Ideal Newspaper.-Genius and Prudence. - A Poet at Work. A Labyrinth of Questions.-A Challenge to Mortal Combat. - Parke Godwin. - Mr. Godwin's Rem- iniscences of Bryant. - A Tour on the Prairies." The An Ocean Voyage. — A Ride through Derbyshire. — A Din- ner with the American Minister at London. - A Break- fast with Rogers. - Powers and his Greek Slave.-Amer- ican Art in England. - "The Lungs of London."-The Highlands of Scotland. - The Home of Burns. — In Ire- land. - Through Germany. - Return to New York. -A Picture of the Poet. - Excursions in the United States. A Visit to Cuba. - In London again.-A Tour through 101 Home in Civilized Life.-Bryant's Enjoyment of Home.- - |