THE Boya COLUMBIAN PHENIX = AND BOSTON REVIEW. CONTAINING USEFUL INFORMATION ON Literature, Religion, Porality, WITH MANY INTERESTING PARTICULARS IN History and Biography. FORMING A Compendium of the Present State of Society. Vol. I. for 1800. BOSTON: PRINTED BY MANNING & LORING, For JOSEPH HAWKINS, No. 39, Cornhill. TO CORRESPONDENTS. THE meritorious poetic favor, from "Criton," entitled "THE FASHIONABLE REVIEW, No. I." is received; and we regret that it did not come to hand foon enough for insertion. The Author, however, may rest assured, that in our next Number it shall fill the place it merits. The Editor, in justice to his own personal feelings, cannot but acknowledge the politenefs and good intentions of Mr. "CockLOFTICAL," and in justice to the feelings of the public, must sufpend the publication of Mr. C.'s favor for a time. The Stanzas on the Youth, who died with chagrin, because his mistress wore false hair, is destitute of originality, if not of truth. AMANDA'S Acrostic can be understood only in the circle of her acquaintance; we shall be proud and happy to oblige the ladies, when the occafion is confonant with our judgment. MATILDA's poetic Lamentation, on being bit by a favourite dog, does more credit to her fancy than her knowledge of the world; the circumstance of a puppy being ungrateful towards his mistress, is among the ordinary occurrences of life. Many original communications are under confideration; some of which will appear in our next, as they possess, in an eminent degree, fuch sentiments as are calculated to please the majority of our readers. : TO PATRONS. THE Marriages and Deaths, which have occurred since the first of January, are unavoidably omitted in this Number, but shall appear in our next, with those which may happen in the present month. Schwaab 11-30-40 42009 TO THE PUBLIC. THEN the Editor of the COLUMBIAN PHENIX W first issued his Proposals for this Monthly Publication, it was with a " trembling diffidence." But among the various pursuits of life, this, to which necessity and ambition have impelled him, is the only one which is consonant with his situation and feelings. Being deprived of the inestimable privileges and properties of vision, his only refort, either for amusement or profit, is to the exertions of an ever-thinking soul; from which, though he cannot promise the most polished specimens of eloquence, he will endeavor to produce occasional differtations, that may perhaps tend, not only to the amusement, but to the instruction of the reader. Though affured of the aid of several gentlemen, on whose merit as writers, their essays will furnish the best comment, and of the fupport of friends in different parts of the country, respectable in number, as well as ability to promote his efforts; yet with this fair profpect before him, he has at times viewed the dark side of the picture, and felt at a loss, whether to come forward and declare his honest intentions, in what he thinks a laudable undertaking, and folicit the patronage of the public; or to make an apology to his friends, and to the world, for what many, and perhaps not without fome reason, may call a rash and foolish attempt... He has lived long enough to know that the author, or editor, who does not promote the ambition of individuals, flatter their pride, and their avarice, or gratify their hate, finds in general but a scanty support; and to atone for his neglect and chagrin, has only the self-fatisfaction of having deserved better.-Excellent food for the mind; but it will not keep the body from starving. Experience too often proves, that a man, to derive pecuniary reward from his talents, must pamper the vices and follies of mankind. The bill at the grog-shop or tavern is paid cheerfully, without even examining the items the butcher's with more scruples and reluctance the physician's with still more and most of all, the ill fated author's, who employs his time and talents to cure the diseases of the mind. Temperance parts with money cautiously. Extravagance has has no bounds, except you declare war against it; then it very prudently objects to detraying the expense. The moral writer is confidered, and justly, as the enemy of extravagance and vice. The virtuous, the hypocrite, and the self-deceived, all combine to say, I have no need of his assistance, why should I pay him?-The vicious, he is at war with me, I will not.Among them all, the moral and chaste writer is left to starve, and the principled editor a bankrupt. These are evils common to all countries; for, to our mortification, they grow out of our nature. All men love flattery; most hate reproof. Unrestrained by law, there may be found more, who would pay for asiassinating an enemy, than for faving the life of a friend. In all civilized countries (and ours is certainly in this class,) the power of literature is known and felt. From causes, which need not be here enlarged upon, there is a very wide and shameful difference between its legitimate, and common ufe. In addition to these general obstacles to "honest efforts," and "humble merit," there has been thrown in the way of the editor of this work another, which, if real, is unfortunate to him, and not only unfortunate, but alarming to our coun-try-That indifference, or rather apathy, to genius and genuine literature, which has been so often, and he would believe falsely represented an inherent quality of Americans. While the Columbian Phenix was in embryo, its short duration was foretold in the following paragraph, published at Philadelphia, by a gentleman of high repute in the republic of letters. "Literary projects have almost always proved abortive in Boston. Many attempts have been made to establish periodical works in that small town; but mifcellaneous readers ask in vain for a magazine, or a review, or a literary journal, in the capital of New England. The poverty of the inhabitants is the probable cause of the deficiency. But the hopes of authors, like the defires of lovers, are not easily extinguished; and a Mr. Hawkins, in the fanguine spirit of a projector, adventures to expose himself to the cold inclemency of a commercial port. He proposes the publication of a Monthly Magazine, entitled the Columbian Phenix. But from the duft and ashes of its predeceffor, this Columbian foarer will hardly arife. This is to be deeply regretted by the lovers of literature, and the friends of humanity, for we understand that Mr. Hawkins is both a sensible and unfortunate man. His fuccess is warmly withed, but scarcely to be expected. Although A though it is faid he is to be aided by the classical learning and attic wit of the author of the Jacobiniad, the Bostonians will probably prefer, as usual, the perufal of fome of their meagre and time-ferving newspapers, or rather that informing and witty work, called an advertisement." Time must make its comment on this paragraph. Its author may prove a true prophet. 'The editor cannot yield implicit faith to his doctrine, without trying the efficacy of works. Patience and perfeverance, he is sure are necessary. He is aware that there are many stumbling blocks in his way, and is prepared, and expects to make some temporary facrifices. These are inconveniences which every one, who embarks in a fimilar enterprize, should be prepared to encounter. He is determined to do all on his part within the compass of his abilities. His friends, in particular, have encouraged his hopes, and his cxpectations, by a liberal fubfcription-Whether the man of business, and the miscellaneous reader, will promptly throw in their mite to encourage a work of this nature, from more enlarged views, experience must determine. : He imputes inattention to works of taste, to other causes, than the poverty or fłupidity of Americans to circumstances. peculiar to a young growing nation. There is no country where the great mass of citizens are better furnished with that species of knowledge, necessary to direct individuals in the common pursuits of industry. But for the higher departments of literature, which "weed the morals," and "prune the taste," we look almost in vain. This is the province of the Belles-lettres. There is a critical period between infancy and manhood, in nations as well as individuals. Whatever we have done in agriculture, in commerce, in politics, and in war; in the Belles-lettres, we have not passed this period. We have the elements, but they are not called into order. We are progreffing; but perhaps not farther advanced than we were in the art of war, at the commencement of our revolution. We had arms, and zeal, and courage to use them, and many had skill as individuals, but combination and difcipline were wanted. We are not called upon to defend ourselves by arms, at present. Though far, very far from being out of danger, it is on other weapons we must rely for our national safety and honor-Public and private virtues, and the force and direction of opinion. Every American acknowledges the efficacy of a free press; they have experienced its advantages, and its evils: |