Text: John H. Ingram, “John Neal,” Athenaeum (London, UK), whole no. 2555, August 14, 1876, pp. 507-508

[page 507, column 2, continued:]

John Neal. — It is never too late to lay a laurel-leaf upon the tomb. On the 20th of June last, at the ripe age of eighty-three, John Neal, one of the most noteworthy of American littérateurs, passed away. For sixty years the indefatigable producer of a series of more or less popular works in prose and verse, the editor of some, and the contributor to many, of the leading periodicals of England and the United States, and the personal acquaintance of several of the best-known literati of both [column 2:] nations, John Neal, although he may have outlived most of his early literary friendships and much of his own fame, yet deserves some passing recognition of his completed career. His whole life was a course of chivalrous enterprises. He came to London in order to nullify the sneer of “Who ever reads an American book?” and contrived to arouse the attention of the British public by his papers on American subjects, when such things were new to Europe. He would seem to have forsaken England, because his articles were not published as he wrote them. He returned to America in 1827, intending to settle in New York; but hearing that the citizens of his native town, Portland, in Maine, would not permit him to stay there, there, with his characteristic spirit, he went and started a newspaper — the Yankee. His courage in the advocacy of unpopular truths rendered him anything but agreeable to his contemporary native press, whilst the candour of his criticisms created for him a host of unknown and, generally, anonymous assailants; but he lived to see all the ephemeric cliques, cabals, and reputations which he had so fiercely attacked moulder into oblivion. One of his bravest acts was to decline a challenge sent him by Edward C. Pinckney, one of America's best versifiers, and son of one of her best orators. The youthful midshipman accused Neal of cowardice; but the man's antecedents were too well known, and his skill as a fencer, boxer, and athlete too noted, for any one to discredit his courage. Up to the last his bravery and his intellect both retained their pristine vigour. Of the former I have only report to rely upon, but of the latter I judge by personal correspondence. Some day, when America has founded a literature, she will have to assign a niche to John Neal, as one of her most honourable pioneers.

I.