Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 edition. Excerpt: ...white-top boots, breeches and shoe-buckles, --signs and symbols of a generation, a few examples of which still lingered among us, --finally departed with the charter of Charles II., while with the new constitution of 1818, short hair, pantaloons, and round hats with narrow brims, became the established costume of men of all classes."' This period was the early spring-time of American literature. The coterie known as the "Hartford wits" was famous in the first years of it. Trumbull's collected poems were published in 1820. Mrs. Sigourney first appeared as an author of prose and verse in 1815. S. G. Goodrich (Peter Parley) was here from 1811 onward, and did much to stimulate an interest in literature. Literary clubs flourished. Percival's poems were published in 1821, Drake's Culprit Fay in 1819, Bryant's Thanatopsis and the North American Review in 1817, and Cooper's Spy in 1821. Irving's New York was printed in 1809, and his Sketch Book in 1819. The Connecticut Mirror had three successive editors of unusual literary ability, Theodore Dwight, Colonel Stone, and John C. Brainard. The Hartford Times was established under able editorial management. Irving, Cooper, Bryant, Halleck, Paulding, Drake, Brainard, Hillhouse, Percival, Everett, and others were arising to answer Sydney Smith's question, "Who reads an American book?" The famous law-school in Litchfield, where many distinguished men pursued their legal studies, may be mentioned. Calhoun, Clay, and Webster were coming to the front rank in national politics. This literary revival was powerfully stimulated by the new school of English writers, whose works were eagerly and widely read. Cowper had supplanted or supplemented Dr. Watts. Burns' poems were read with...