Choice Specimens of American Literature, and Literary Reader - Being Selections from the Chief American Writers

Benj. N. Martin

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• Publié par: edwa
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 54
• Langue: English

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Specimens of American Literature, And Literary
Reader, by Benj. N. Martin
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Title: Choice Specimens of American Literature,
And Literary Reader Being Selections from the
Chief American Writers
Author: Benj. N. Martin
Release Date: February 17, 2004 [EBook #11122]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG
EBOOK CHOICE SPECIMENS ***
Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon,
Gene Smethers and PG Distributed ProofreadersCHOICE SPECIMENS
OF
AMERICAN LITERATURE,
AND
LITERARY READER,
BEING SELECTIONS FROM THE CHIEF
AMERICAN WRITERS,
BY
PROF. BENJ. N. MARTIN, D.D., L.H.D.,
PROFESSOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE
CITY OF NEW YORK. 1874
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
The former edition of this work was preparedsimply as a supplement to Shaw's "Choice
Specimens of English Literature." Though it
extended to a larger size than had been
anticipated, and was therefore issued in a separate
volume, it still proved so straitened in point of
space as to be in some important respects
defective and inadequate. The decision of the
publishers to reprint it in an enlarged form
furnishes to the editor a welcome opportunity to
correct its deficiencies, and to make several
important emendations.
When the work of collecting suitable extracts from
the great body of our literature was fairly entered
upon, it soon became apparent that little aid could
be had from the earlier manuals. Besides being in
great measure obsolete, they were from the
beginning disproportionate, and geographically too
local in subject and spirit; both of which may be
deemed grave defects.
The last twenty years have made great changes in
American authorship. Many new names must now
be added to the older lists, and many formerly
familiar ones must be dropped from them. Hence
these extracts have for the most part been
derived, with assiduous care, directly from the
collected works of our standard authors. This part
of my labor has been greatly facilitated by the
courtesy of the gentlemen connected with the
Society, the Mercantile, and the Astor, Library,
whose constant kindness I gratefully acknowledge.
The principal alterations which will be found in thisedition are the following.
1. The extracts, formerly, of necessity, brief and
fragmentary, have given place to more extended
and coherent passages.
2. A much larger space has been allotted to the
more eminent authors.
Such writers as Franklin, Jefferson, Calhoun,
Webster, Wirt, Irving,
Cooper, Hawthorne, Channing, Beecher, Prescott,
Motley, Shea, Bryant,
Poe, Emerson, and Lowell, have been much more
adequately exhibited.
3. Many later writers have been added, so that the
work more fully represents the rapid development
of literary effort among us.
4. A few writers, formerly included, have been
dropped from the list, not always as less deserving
a place, but sometimes as having less adaptation
to the purposes of the book.
Much care has been bestowed upon the dates of
the several authors, and in bringing up details of
information to the latest period. The same pains
have been taken to furnish a just representation of
the writers, too often overlooked in our manuals, of
the Southern and Western portions of our country.
Though often wanting in mere grace of style, they
are apt to be original and vigorous; and often
possessing valuable material, they are well worthy
of perusal. In all these respects this collection has
been carefully elaborated; and the editor hopesbeen carefully elaborated; and the editor hopes
that it will be found to give a somewhat
proportionate and complete view for its compass,
of our best literature.
In adapting the selections to Mr. Tuckerman's
interesting "Sketch of American Literature,"
specimens have generally been taken from several
authors in each of his groups. Some names not
found in his "Sketch," have been introduced, chiefly
for the fuller illustration of the literature of the south
and west. In this particular, Coggeshall's "Poets
and Poetry of the West" has afforded great
assistance. Among the more recent aids of the
same kind, I must also mention Davidson's "Living
Writers of the South," and Raymond's "Southland
Writers." Especial acknowledgment is due to the
"Cyclopedia" of the Messrs. Duyckinck; Appleton's
"Annual Cyclopedia" has furnished many important
dates; and I have occasionally been indebted to
the works of Allibone, Cheever, Griswold,
Cleveland, Hart, and Underwood. Not only the local
literature however, but the several professions, and
the great religious denominations, are also
represented by prominent writers.
It seemed unnecessary to treat the female writers
as a distinct class; they are, therefore, arranged
under the departments to which they respectively
belong, as Essayists, Novelists, Poets, &c.
I should be claiming a merit which does not belong
to me, should I fail to say, that, for much of the
labor which this treatise has involved, I am
indebted to the co-operation of my brother, Mr.William T. Martin, whose acquaintance with our
literature has not often been surpassed, and
whose valuable aid and counsel have been freely
afforded me.
The hours which have been spent in culling
extracts from so many able and entertaining
writers, though laborious, have been to the editor
full of interest, and often of delight. He trusts that
these fruits of his labor will be useful, in imparting,
especially to his youthful readers, not only an
acquaintance with the best of our national authors,
but a taste for literature, and a good ideal of
literary excellence, than which few things in
intellectual education are more to be esteemed. If
successful in these respects, he will be abundantly
satisfied; and in this hope, he submits his work to
the judgment of the public.CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
= 1 .= RELIGIOUS WRITERS OF THE
SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES.
Roger Williams, 1598-1683
1. True Liberty defined.
Cotton Mather, 1663-1728
2. Preservation of New England Principles.
Jonathan Edwards, 1703-1758
3. Meaning of the Phrase Moral Inability.
Samuel Davies, 1725-1761
4. Life and Immortality revealed through the
Gospel.
Nathaniel Emmons, 1745-1840
5. Rule of Private Judgment.
= 2 .= HISTORICAL WRITERS OF THE
SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES.
Cadwallader Colden, 1688-1776
6. The Five Nations assert their Superiority.William Stith, 1689-1755 7. The rule of
Powhatan. 8. Pocahontas in England.
William Smith, 1728-1793
9. Manners of the People of New York.
= 3 .= MISCELLANEOUS WRITERS OF THE
SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES.
John Winthrop, 1587-1649 10. True Liberty
defined. 11. Proposed Treatment of the Indians.
William Byrd, 1674-1744 12. The Ginseng and
Snakeroot Plants.
Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790 13. Good
Resolutions.—The Croaker. 14. Franklin's
Electrical Kite. 15. Motion for Prayers in the
Convention. 16. The Ephemeron. An Emblem.
= 4 .= LATER RELIGIOUS WRITERS AND
DIVINES.
John Woolman, 1730-1772 17. Remarks on
Slavery and Labor.
John M. Mason, 1770-1829 18. Grandeur of the
Bible Society. 19. The Right of the State to
Educate.
Timothy Dwight, 1752-1817 20. The Wilderness
reclaimed. 21. The Glory of Nature, from God. John Henry Hobart, 1775-1830
22. The Divine Glory in Redemption.
Lyman Beecher, 1775-1863
23. The Being of a God.
William Ellery Channing, 1780-1842 24.
Character of Napoleon. 25. Grandeur of the
prospect of Immortality. 26. The Duty of the Free
States.
Edward Payson, 1783-1827
27. Natural Religion.
Joseph S. Buckminster, 1784-1812
28. Necessity of Regeneration.
Nathaniel W. Taylor, 1786-1858
29. Proof of Immortality from the Moral Nature of
Man.
Edward Hitchcock, 1793-1864
30. Geological Proof of Divine Benevolence.
John P. Durbin, 1800-
31. First Sight of Mount Sinai.
Leonard Bacon, 1802- 32. The Day approaching.
33. The Benefits of Capital.
James W. Alexander, 1804-1859
34. The Church a Temple.
Martin J. Spaulding, 1810-1872
35. Trials of the Pioneer Catholic Clergy in the