Text: Anonymous, [Review of Graham's Magazine for February], Boston Morning Post (Boston, MA), January 29, 1842, vol. XXI, no. 25, p. 1, cols. 6-7

[page 1, column 6, continued:]

Graham's Ladies and Gentleman's Magazine for February — Jordan & Co., Agents. — This magazine is in one respect better than its contemporaries. It has literary notices, which, if not always just, are spirited and well written. Its editor betrays considerable pedantry, and flippancy, and prejudice in his compositions, but also exhibits much critical acumen and sincerely. The works noticed in the present number are “Barnaby Rudge,” and “Wacondah, a poem,” and both are fairly treated with but one or two exceptions. Among the articles in the number are continuations of the “Two Dukes,” “Daughters of Dr. Byes,” and “Agatha, a necromaunt,” all of which we pass by, for the reason given in our notice of the Lady's Book. Miss Leslie, however, in her sketch of the Misses Byles, makes one true remark which we cannot help noticing. Speaking of a visit which Lord Percy, in the revolutionary days, paid to the ancient ladies, (young then) she says —

“I imagined the heir of Northunberland, taking [column 7:] his tea in the old parlor, by the old fire-place, at the old tea-table, — entertained by the witticisms of Dr. Byles, and the prettinesses of his daughters; who, of course, were the envy of all the female tories of Boston, at least of those who could not aspire to the honor of being talked to by English noblemen. — Moreover, Lord Percy frequently ordered the band of his regiment to play under the chesnut trees, for the gratification of Miss Byleses, who then, as they said, had “God save the King” in perfection. By the bye, I have never heard either God save the King or Rule Britannia well played by an American band; though our musicians seem to perform the Marseillois con a more.”

The satire is very quiet. Did you ever hear an Englishman allow or orchestra did or could play these tunes properly? We pause for a reply. The fact is curious, and it nicely reveals John Bull's nationality or prejudice, we care not which. “Harry Cavendish,” the “Duello,” and the “Blue Velvet Manitlla,” are all readable sketches Among other things in the number is an original letter of Dickens, which may interest our readers. It is in reply to one addressed him by a a [[sic]] Western gentleman, and, as we take it, a perfect stranger, thanking him for the pleasure he had received from the perusal of his works. The reply of Boz is as follows:

Park Benjamin has contributed a sketch of Mrs Norton, and a slight review of her principal poem, the “Dream.” Mr Edgar A. Poe has also inserted a wretched notice of Brainard. We say wretched, but our readers may judge of its ability when we tell them that the writer ranks Brainard below Longfellow. We dislike to impeach men's motives, but it really seems as if Mr Poe delights to under-rate everything which people before him have praised for the mere purpose of being original, or rather, eccentric. We expect to see him attempt, ere long, to prove that Shakespear and Milton were no poets.

As for the poetry in this number, it may be said, in the words of Peter Pindar, with a slight alteration, “the good are pretty good, the bad too bad to give the pigs,” and in the latter predicament stands “Rosaline,” by J. R. Lowell. We sincerely hope this gentleman will refrain from writing in this affected style. He has as much poetry in him as any of our writers, but most of his published compositions are sadly disfigured through haste, carelessness, affection and false imagery. The mezzotint in the present number is beautifully executed, but is wretchedly designed. The “Bonnie Steed” is long enough to accommodate two or three equestrians, without the least strain on the neck or tail of the beast.