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can, therefore, be no doubt that he is a dance, or work, for gain; but they will not ready and industrious writer.

pay to be taught philosophy. People will The first work, which, for the sake of also pay to be pleased; and those who have brevity, we shall call the False Medium,' pleasure to sell, find a ready market. A is dedicated "to Edward Lytton Bulwer, a man or woman may have a talent for dancpatriot and a man of genius." As Mr. Bul-ing, for singing, and working, in modes wer was at that time well known to the which people like; but if a man or woman public, it is evident that he had found some has a genius for inventing new dances, or means of thrusting aside the 'False Medi-songs, or work, of an intrinsically superior um.' The "exordium" in this work, is-kind, but which people have not been ac

"A common stone meets with more ready patronage than a man of genius."

to turn instructor without pay till the new customed to, the genius must be contented art is rendered popular. Genius varies in That is to say, the stone being placed in its quality. One man originates a new a cabinet, as a specimen, by some one who philosophy; another originates a new mode selects it from a heap of other stones, it is of cheapening pleasure. One will get putaken care of, whereas no one takes care of pils by units, the other gets customers by a man of genius; and Mr. Horne gives in-thousands. But were the originator of the stances of men of genius, "poets and phi-new philosophy to complain that he could losophers," from Homer down to Camoens, not sell his philosophy for current coin, we who have been buffeted about the world should be apt to suspect him of false phiduring their whole lives, and only valued losophy, and tell him he had mistaken his after their deaths. "Authors in general," genius. The popular thing is the paying from Demosthenes down to some individual not specified by name, have been an illused race; imprisoned when possessing property, and starved when possessing none. Sir R. Pis accused of neglecting an author, scholar, and man of science, who had been of much service to him, so that "his wife is obliged to wash in one room while he translates Greek in another."

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thing: the widest popularity is among the masses; and the greater the refinement, the less is the popularity. It is the essence of high genius to be in advance of its age. The genius of the Greek tragic poets was not in advance of their age. They had cultivated audiences to whom they presented the highest intellectual excitement of the time, but we doubt whether their popularity was great with the masses of uncultivated slaves.

Speaking of

Now we object at the outset to a man of genius being made a dependant on "ready patronage. A man of talents may be "Dramatic Authors," Mr. Horne asserts, subservient to those who require his talents, are as ill-used as all other authors, and but but a man of genius must be essentially for the "barriers and false medium," the original. He is a guide and not a servant; author of 'Paul Clifford' could produce a he points out new paths of excellence; un-sterling comedy, in which the philosophy, recognised at the outset by any one but wit, and humor could only be surpassed by himself, and to appreciate which, in some its sound and beneficial moral tendency. cases, even the few require years of instruc- Yet Mr. Horne would seem to set little tion, and the many require centuries. If value on the moral principle. he were not in advance of his time, he Edmund Kean, He says— would not be a man of genius. We speak now of the genius for great things, the genius which elevates. To expect that people should rush in crowds, to worship that which they neither recognise nor comprehend, is an absurdity; to expect that they should pay for it in ready coin, is a conclusion that no man of great genius ever dreamed of. People do not pay for being worth all your tombs; for no capricious moral taught anything but what they can take to multitude can destroy or even disturb its samarket and sell or exchange away to ad-cred isolature."

vantage, or such accomplishments as may tend to personal influence. They will pay

They (certain tragedies) contain some of the e'ementary principles of tragedy, which he (Kean) only can feel and portray.”

And in a note he remarks

"The great tragedian is no more; but he can never be dead so long as those live who

have once awoke from ordinary existence to appreciate him. A deep continuous feeling is

Edmund Kean is a most unfortunate in

to be taught to dance, or sing, or work, in stance for Mr. Horne to have chosen.

order that they may be enabled to sing, or

There is no doubt he possessed genius of a

MSS. offered for publication, who never judges rightly of the merit of a work; who invariably rejects all works of genius, and only accepts or approves of the very worst. This reader is always either a fool or a knave," and, "in either case, the author ist the victim." Unmeasured terms of abuse

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peculiar kind. There is no doubt that by personal energy he broke through all false mediums; and there is no doubt that he was very highly paid for his services, by a public to whom his peculiar genius gave great excitement. Unfortunately, also, there is no doubt that his personal character was rather that of a savage than of a civilized are heaped on this "reader "on all man. He was one to gaze on, but not to" readers." associate with. His stage powers were all that he gave to the public in return for their recognition and large pecuniary payment. The "moral multitude" are assuredly rather hardly dealt with by Mr. Horne.

Composers and Musicians, Actors and Singers, all are alike ill-treated.

"Mrs

bitter coteries he can bear down and impress "He lords it dogmatically over the gin-andwith an idea of his knowledge, acute judgment, and literary importance. In the society of capable men over their brandy punch, he is still as a mouse. ""

The Dramatic Reader at the theatres is

Jordan with a paltry salary of four pounds even worse, so bad, that Mr. Horne is surper week!" Claiming to be a man of prised none of the ill-used authors have genius, Mr. Horne has a strange propensity burned down the patent theatres.

to try things by money value. "Pasta furnished with old clothes by the wardrobe women!" "Miss O'Neil brought out at a low salary, the owlish managers doubting her success!"

Novelists, Painters, and Sculptors, fare no better. Men of Science, Original Projectors, and Inventors, still worse.

"No man who does write poetry can ever think of doing us any thing but verbal mischief."

Such Mr. Horne affirms to be the opinion of dramatic readers, but he adds—

"Our idea of a tragic writer, exasperated by wrongs and want, is not quite so harmless; In treating of the causes of all this, Mr. we are glad, however, of their escape." Horne remarks :

that

It does not appear that Mr. Horne proposes any one but the writer should sit in judgment on his own compositions, or at

least

"Napoleon was the greatest patron of genius and art in every possible class that ever lived. Those only who are conscious of superiority in themselves, apart from their station, who possess copiousness of intellect and power to do or suffer, can be above all petty jealousies and fears, and thus fit to govern others." Shakspeare was treated by Elizabeth as an amusing playwright; and as he never meddled with public spirit' or politics.necessarily associated with defects." she suffered him to continue his labors unmolested."

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We incline to think that Napoleon's patronage of any genius adverse to himself, is far from a proved case. He patronized

The ge

talents that were useful to him.
nius of Carnot never succumbed, and was
never forgiven.

Mr. Horne seems quite unable to comprehend that the genius of Shakspeare was above queen or court He would have had him made a duke at least, as a recompense for his writings, and a pension of course, though of pecuniary gains the great man had probably enough for his wishes.

The evil of men of genius who write books, is, according to Mr, Horne, the "false medium" employed by booksellers, in the shape of a Reader," who peruses

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"Few of mankind are prepared to relish the beautiful with that enlarged taste which comprehends all the forms of feeling which genius may assume-forms which may be

This is very like pointing out, that genius must necessarily be its own rewarder, the many not comprehending it. The " remedy" for all these evils, Mr. Horne states to be

"The foundation of a 'Society of English Literature and Art for the encouragement and permanent support of men of superior ability in all deparments of human genius and knowedge.' The permanent advantages to be derived by those whose claims are recognised by the establishment, should be realized by annuities for life. from 300l. down

* * *

*

*

wards;
this not to extend to gen-
lemen who write novels and poems, for which
they ought be hung."

When a man has written a fine epic and btained the 3007. a-year for life,

"He has done enough; would you have a

*

man write epics, and keep him at it, like a fought." Cosmo, nevertheless, asserts that wheelwright with a government order? he has been "murdered," and suspects Again, the producer of a powerful tragedy that Garcia knows of it. By way of makwould only be entitled to an annuity of 100%, not that we do not consider such a tragedy as ing sure, he has the dead body placed in an great an effect of human genius as the fines: alcove, with a curtain before it. Garcia is epic, but because there is a manifest difference ushered in; and Cosmo, after charging him in the time and labor employed, and also that with the murder of his brother, draws the a tragic author thus brought with his due honors curtain, shows the body, when Garcia before the public, would have a great chance says, "I did it;" but adds, "it was in selfof emolument from the stage, whose gradual defence." Cosmo insists that the blood is improvement would be a necessary congeflowing afresh at sight of the murderer; quence." but Garcia asserts that it is congealed, and

We pause to extract one more sentence very naturally appeals to his father "not to from this False Medium.'

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harrow his senses till he owns what is not."
But the just Cosmo will hear nothing, draws
forth "Garcia's broken sword," raises it
to heaven, and says—

"Thon constant God! sanction, impel, direct
The sword of Justice! and for a criminal son
That pardon grant, which his most wretched
father
Thus in the hour of agony implores!"

"That in the pure element of dramatic com position, they (the unacted dramatists) also Subsequently we are informed that, with consider themselves worthy to be ranked with his own hand, and of course with this brosome of the dramatists of a nobler era, is un-ken sword, the father has taken his son's doubtedly true-and one of them has been life, 300n after which an eye-witness informs heard to set at nought the scoffs of his time. him that Garcia slew his brother in self-deby claiming to rank in the pure elements of tragedy, with the dramatists of the Greek or Eliazbethan ages."

In a note we are informed that this claimant is Mr. Horne himself, the author of Cosmo de' Medici' and 'Gregory the

Seventh.'

fence.

Throughout this play the sympathy goes only with Garcia, ill-used on all sides. The man of justice should also be a man of judgment to weigh evidence, and of stern purpose to act only on evidence. The

evidence was in favor of Garcia. His sword was broken, and Giovanni's was "unsheathThe plot of Cosmo is briefly as follows:ed and stained, as though he had fought." Cosmo, a patron of art, who gives livings A father with a heart, would have left no and employments to scholars and artists, means untried to prove his remaining son and professes a love for justice above all other things, has two sons, the elder, Gio- tried to wrest evidence and prove him guilty. innocent, but Cosmo leaves no means unvanni, a student, described as of most sweet It is an inquisitor, not a father, nor a mindisposition; the younger, Garcia, given to ister of justice, who is before us, and with hunting. These two brothers much dislike one another, and the elder exhibits his an inquisitor we can have no sympathy. A sweet disposition by constantly scolding father, butchering a son with a broken sword, is horror, bordering on the ludicrous. the younger. By way of producing an at- There are several prose scenes in this tachment between them, their mother per-play, we presume, intended for humor; suades the elder to join a hunting party they are, indeed, "heavy lightness." There with the younger. In the forest they quar-is also a philosophic sculptor to whom Cos

rel as to which had slain a boar. Some

how this quarrel changes into a dispute about a young lady, and they draw and fight. Garcia, the younger, breaks his sword in half, but yet contrives to kill his brother, whose body he leaves on the spot A courtier finds the body, and the broken sword point, which he conveys to Cosmo, informing him that Giovanni's sword was "unsheathed and stained as though he had

death of his sons, as "life-sized figures," of mo gives an order for a monument after the his whole family The philosophical Pas

sato reasons thus:

"The duke is great and generous; yet methinks
It ill suits greatness in philosophy,
Because his kin have sought their natural rest
Some seasons prematurely, thus to rave!
I will return to mine obscurity,

To stand upon some cliff that goat ne'er hoof'd,

Companion shadows and commune with Time.

a case, a preponderance of self-esteem would not defeat all previous preparation. A tragic writer who can talk of "burning down a theatre" as a means of redressing In" wrongs and want," cannot well be a dispassionate judge.

Scattered through this play there are passages of great poetic sweetness. power of depicting character, and as a work of art, it is a failure.

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A man of genius, capable of great things With Gregory the Seventh' we neither and of estimating the Spirits of the Age,' make nor meddle. The death of Mar-must, according to our notion, be a very lowe' unquestionably bears considerable different person. Genius, i. e. the power resemblance to certain writers of the age of of creation, we take to be an emanation of Elizabeth. There is much passion in it, the "divinity that shapes our ends," and but it merely excites, it does not call for can no more work for hire than God himsympathy. It rather reminds us of the self could in the creation of the world. tragedies of mad Nat Lee, but it has a life Great genius is ever in advance of its time, about it, which 'Cosmo' has not. and can no more be appreciated by its conBy his own acknowledgment Mr. Horne temporaries, than God's creation could be considers himself equal to "the dramatists appreciated by the megatherian and ichthyof the Greek or Elizabethan ages," in the osaurian tribes, who inhabited the world production of these "powerful tragedies," prior to the advent of man. Genius is a and entitled to "a permanent annuity of prophet where, "out of the fulness of the 3007., so that he has already done enough to heart the mouth speaketh." Genius works entitle him to a handsome income, when the for the gain of its disciples, not for its own. "Society of English Literature and Art "It works to advance others, not to glorify shall be in full operation. To wish he may itself. The earthly body it inhabits, needs get it would be an easy matter, if we could meat, clothes, and fire," or in lieu of the satisfy ourselves that he deserved it. latter a genial climate. Deprived of these After a careful examination we come to things it cannot work, but it needs only the the conclusion that he does not possess the essential, not the adventitious. It does high mind that is ever the attribute of lofty not need a respectable" income, nor a genius. He does not value genius for itself lodging in May Fair; it needs neither costly alone, but for what it will fetch in the mar- clothing, nor modish association, neither ket. "Permanent annuities, due honors, sumptuous fare nor costly wines; it needs further chances of emolument." are the sor-not even "due honors." The blind men did rewards he contemplates, and these off- of genius, Homer and Milton, could have hand, without loss of time, in order that recked little of externals, while they poured authors, like clergymen, may enter on im- forth the spirit from within. And in a very mediate enjoyment of their benefices. All humble residence was the genius of Richter men of genius, he says, are ill-used, all the developed. There is one thing only which public are fools, and those who profit are can reward genius-the sympathy of apprepart and parcel of the False Medium.' ciating spirits. Beyond this, indifferent to He is himself, he considers, ill-used, and of the man of high genius are all externals; course, he is disappointed. His tragedies" homely fare and hodden gray," are as have not been acted, and his epic has been good as turtle and velvet. We can consold for a farthing. Such a mind is not in ceive a man of genius in this our modern harmony, and cannot be fitted to sit in England, dwelling in a union workhouse, judgment on the spirits of the age-is un-clothed in workhouse garb, and fed on workfitted even to distinguish them. A man of house food, teaching, perhaps, the ABC to talent—a man of industry, Mr. Horne is, workhouse children as a quittance for his but assuredly not a man of genius, nor a meat, clothes, and fire, furnished with spare philosopher. We have not seen his Facto- leaves of account books as a reward for dilry Report, but we should expect to find it aigence, and permittted to sit by the kitchen medium of considerable prejudice, inseparable from the mind of the writer. A well appointed home, reputable clothing, and proper breakfasts, dinners, teas and suppers, are evidently essentials to induce in him a quiet mind, and, moreover, "due honors," but we doubt whether even in such

embers in the still night, and even thus producing works despised by existing publishers and an existing public, and destined to be hailed by future men as the gift of a great benefactor. We know of one earnest man, not of genius, but a devoted linguist, who saved his lodging by lying on the bare floor

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of empty houses, to take care of them while (large upon it. The 'Spirit of the Age,' wanting tenants-earning his food by copy- if meant to express any particular kind of ing MSS. Not being enough man of the spirit, should express the general preworld" for this lodging work, he was dominating spirit of the world as to some obliged to seek his nightly rest by the shel-particular branch of progress. In this view tered sides of brick-kilns, and a few oc- it is an entire failure, for the prominent casional pence by singing at low public- characteristic of the present age is physical houses, and with these appliances he actu- progress, i. e. progress in all arts tending to ally accomplished the publication of the diminsh human drudgery, and ultimately to two first numbers of a Dictionary on a new extinguish it-arts, also, tending to enlarge system. At one time this man had an in- the sphere of human pleasures. In the come of five pounds per week for teaching petty spirit of caste, Mr. Horne, a profeslanguages, but he was shouldered out of sional writer, deems that written books are employment by people of greater energy of more importance than things; that writthan himself. ers of things are greater men than the doers of things. It is true that contemplation must be the creator of great action, but it may print the results of its thoughts as indelibly on things and events as on paper.

Let it not be alleged that a man of genius requires a library and appliances. The man of original genius is not essentially a man of cultivated art. Homer was not a student of books. Earth, sea, and sky, and all on and in them were his themes, and In this view the strong Saxon spirit of out of his own soul he spoke or sung; and George Stephenson, the "Hengist of Railif it be asserted that in this our England ways," is a spirit of the age that has written men of genius need the appliances of art, a work whereon those who ride may read there are the museum and library called glad tidings of man's rescue from the bonthe "British," to which garreteer or cellar- dage and thraldom of ignorance; of his dweller may alike obtain access, though power of unison with his fellows for the they be clothed in frieze, baize, or sack-purpose of conquering and civilizing the cloth; there are the eternal realities of men earth, reclaiming its swamps and morasses, and women, and streets, houses, churches, and adding to its beauties. Prometheus, in and parks, and the never-ending river, car-the elder mythus, brought fire from heaven rying bodies, souls, and imaginations over to earth to aid man's uses. George Stephenthe watery highway to the furthermost parts of the earth, and there is ever work to be done of the task kind, for him who earnestly seeks it, to supply the body's bare necessities. A judge, of repute in the United States, obliged to live in a city while attending in the courts without any practice, and with only a supply of money for a given period, at the rate of a few cents per day, hired a garret, for which he paid the whole term in advance, and laid out the remainder of his money in sea biscuit, which he himself wheeled home in a borrowed barrow, and stored up in his garret, and on age. Clegg, of the railway air traction,that and water he subsisted for many months, while pursuing his studies. And this in a city where the commonest mechanic ate three meals of meat per diem.

Genius is essentially unconscious. Artists, when mere imitators of genius, are self-conscious, and hence the petty squabbles amongst "men and women of talent," poetasters, dramatizers, actors, and musicians, who make their art a trade; for "two of a trade can never agree."

Mr. Horne has done rashly in taking up Hazlitt's ill-chosen title, and trying to en

son may be the hero of some future mythus, which will tell how he harnessed fire to chariots of iron, which became swifter than the winds of heaven. Isambart Kingdon Brunel is a spirit of the age that would not be content with the work of George Stephenson, but made a yet greater work in advance of the spirit of his age, refusing to submit to the set patterns even of the great originator. David Napier, the restless planner of steam-boat after steam-boat, each swifter than the last, and the planner of the great Bristol iron steamer, are spirits of the

the rope of wound-off-wind; Smith, of Deanston, the physician of diseased land; Liebig, the multiplier of human food by chemic science, are all spirits of the age. Marshall, of Leeds, the greatest of the

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