Part 1

Transcriber's Note

There is a small amount of Greek in this text, which has been transliterated. It is surrounded by plus signs +like this+.

Bold text is indicated with tildes ~like this~.

Characters with a macron (straight line) over them are indicated as [=x], where x is the letter in question. Those with a caron (v shape) over them are indicated as [vx]. Superscripted text is indicated with a caret (^) preceding the superscripted letters.

The original text indicated omitted text with varied numbers of spaced periods; this convention has been retained.

SOUTHERN LITERATURE

_From 1579-1895._

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, WITH COPIOUS EXTRACTS AND CRITICISMS

FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS AND THE GENERAL READER

_Containing an Appendix with a Full List of Southern Authors_

BY LOUISE MANLY

ILLUSTRATED

RICHMOND, VA. B. F. JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY 1900

COPYRIGHT, 1895, BY LOUISE MANLY.

PREFACE.

The primary object of this book is to furnish our children with material for becoming acquainted with the development of American life and history as found in Southern writers and their works. It may serve as a reader supplementary to American history and literature, or it may be made the ground-work for serious study of Southern life and letters; and between these extremes there are varying degrees of usefulness.

To state its origin will best explain its existence. This may furthermore be of some help to teachers in using the book, though each teacher will use it as best suits his classes and methods.

The study of History is rising every day in importance. Sir Walter Raleigh in his "Historie of the World" well said, "It hath triumphed over time, which besides it nothing but eternity hath triumphed over." It is the still living word of the vanished ages.

The best way of teaching history has of late years received much attention. One excellent method is to read, in connection with the text-book, good works of fiction, dramas, poetry, and historical novels, bearing upon the different epochs, and also to read the works of the authors themselves of these different periods. We thus make history and literature illustrate and beautify each other. The dry dates become covered with living facts, the past is peopled with real beings instead of hard names, fiction receives a solid basis for its airy architecture, and the mind of the pupil is interested and broadened. Even the difficult subjects of politics and institutions gradually assume a more pleasing aspect by being associated with individual human interests, and condescend to simplify themselves through personal relations.

To illustrate this method, which I have used with great success in teaching English History:

In connection with the times of the early Britons, read Tennyson's "Idyls of the King."

At the Norman Conquest, Bulwer's "Harold."

At the reign of Richard I. (Coeur de Lion), Scott's "Ivanhoe" and "Talisman," Shakspere's "King John."

At the reign of Elizabeth, Scott's "Kenilworth," the non-historical plays of Shakspere, as he lived at that epoch, Bacon's Essays, and others.

I mention merely a few. The amount of reading can be increased almost indefinitely and will depend on the time of the pupil, the plan of the teacher, and the accessibility of the books. Most of the books necessary for English History are now published in cheap form and are within reach of every pupil.

A great deal of reading is very desirable; it is the only way to give our pupils any broad view of literature and history, and to cultivate a taste for reading in those destitute of it. It is often the only opportunity for reading which some pupils will ever have, and it lasts them a life-time as a pleasure and a benefit.[1]

The reading may be done in the class or out of school hours. It is well to read as much as practicable in class, and to have some sketch of the outside reading given in class.

Geography must also go hand in hand with history, a point now well understood. But its importance can hardly be exaggerated and its practice is of the utmost value. One _must_ use maps to study and read intelligently.

In American History pursue a similar course, as for example:

At the period of discovery and early settlement, read Irving's "Columbus," Simms' "Vasconselos" (De Soto's Expedition), and "Yemassee," John Smith's Life and Writings, Longfellow's "Hiawatha" and "Miles Standish," Kennedy's "Rob of the Bowl," Strachey's Works, Mrs. Preston's "Colonial Ballads," &c.

In Revolutionary times, the Revolutionary novels of Simms and Cooper, Kennedy's "Horse-Shoe Robinson;" the great statesmen of the day, as Jefferson, Adams, Patrick Henry, Hamilton, Washington; Cooke's "Fairfax" in which Washington appears as a youthful surveyor, and "Virginia Comedians" in which Patrick Henry appears, Thackeray's "Virginians;" and others.

Each teacher will make his own list as his time and command of books allow. And each State or section of our great country will devote more time to its own special history and literature; this is right, for knowledge like charity begins at home, and gradually widens until it embraces the circle of the universe.

In collecting material for classes in American History to read in accordance with this plan, it was found easy to get cheap editions of Irving, Longfellow, Cooper, and other writers of the northern States, but almost impossible to get those of the southern, in cheap or even expensive editions. And the present volume has been prepared to supply in part this deficiency. To fit it to the plan suggested, the dates of the writers and the period and character of their works have been indicated, and some selections from them given for reading,--too little, it is feared, to be of much service, and yet enough to stimulate to further interest and study.

The materials have been found so abundant, even so much more abundant than I suspected when undertaking the work, that it has been a hard task to make a selection from the rich masses of interesting writing. I fear that the work is too fragmentary and contains too many writers to make a lasting impression in a historical point of view.

If, however, it leads to a sympathetic study of Southern life and literature, and especially if it makes young people acquainted with our writers of the past and with something of the old-time life and the spirit that controlled our ancestors, it will serve an excellent purpose.

Our writers should be compared with those of other sections and other countries; and due honor should be given them, equally removed from over-praise and from depreciation. If we, their countrymen, do not know and honor them, who can be expected to do so? No people is great whose memory is lost, whose interest centres in the present alone, who looks not reverently back to true beginnings and hopefully forward to a grand future.

So I would urge my fellow-teachers to a fresh diligence in studying and worthily understanding the life and literature of our past, and in impressing them upon the minds of the rising generation, so as to infuse into the new forms now arising the best and purest and highest of the old forms fast passing away.

My sincere thanks are hereby tendered to the scholars who have aided me by their advice and encouragement, to living authors and the relatives of those not living who have generously given me permission to copy extracts from their writings, to the publishers who have kindly allowed me to use copyrighted matter, to Miss Anna M. Trice, Mr. Josiah Ryland, Jr., and the officials of the Virginia State Library where I found most of the books needed in my work, and to Mr. David Hutcheson, of the Library of Congress. My greatest indebtedness is to Professor William Taylor Thom and Professor John P. McGuire, for scholarly criticism and practical suggestions in the course of preparation.

1895. LOUISE MANLY.

FOOTNOTE:

[1] See Professor Woodrow Wilson's excellent article on the University study of Literature and Institutions, in the FORUM, September, 1894.

LIST OF WORKS FOR REFERENCE.

Appleton: Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 6 vols.

Duyckinck: Cyclopaedia of American Literature, 2 vols.

Allibone: Dictionary of Authors, 3 vols.

Kirk: Supplement to Allibone, 2 vols.

Stedman: Poets of America.

Stedman and Hutchinson: Library of American Literature, 11 vols.

Poe: Literati of New York.

Griswold: Poets and Poetry of America. Prose Writers of America. Female Poets of America.

Hart: American Literature, Eldredge Bros., Phila.

Davidson: Living Writers of the South, (1869).

Miss Rutherford: American Authors, Franklin Publishing Company, Atlanta, Georgia.

Southern Literary Messenger, 1834-1863.

Southern Quarterly Review, 1842-1855.

De Bow's Commercial Review.

The Land We Love, 1865-1869.

Southern Review, and Eclectic Review, Baltimore.

Southland Writers, by Ida Raymond (Mrs. Tardy).

Women of the South in Literature, by Mary Forrest.

Fortier: Louisiana Studies, F. F. Hansell, New Orleans.

Ogden: Literature of the Virginias, Independent Publishing Company, Morgantown, West Virginia.

C. W. Coleman, Jr.: Recent Movement in the Literature of the South, Harper's Monthly, 1886, No. 74, p. 837.

T. N. Page: Authorship in the South before the War, Lippincott's Magazine, 1889, No. 44, p. 105.

Professor C. W. Kent, University of Virginia: Outlook for Literature in the South.

People's Cyclopedia (1894).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

In Chronological Order.

FIRST PERIOD ... 1579-1750.

PAGE JOHN SMITH, 1579-1631 33 Rescue of Captain Smith by Pocahontas 35 Our Right to Those Countries 38 Ascent of the River James, 1607 42

WILLIAM STRACHEY, in America 1609-12 45 A Storm Off the Bermudas 45

JOHN LAWSON, in America 1700-08 48 North Carolina in 1700-08 49 Harvest Home of the Indians 53

WILLIAM BYRD, 1674-1744 54 Selecting the Site of Richmond and Petersburg, 1733 58 A Visit to Ex-Governor Spotswood, 1732 58 Dismal Swamp, 1728 61 The Tuscarora Indians and Their Legend of a Christ, 1729 65

SECOND PERIOD ... 1750-1800.

HENRY LAURENS, 1724-1792 67 A Patriot in the Tower 68

GEORGE WASHINGTON, 1732-1799 71 An Honest Man 73 How to Answer Calumny 74 Conscience 74 On his Appointment as Commander-in-Chief, 1775 74 A Military Dinner-Party 76 Advice to a Favorite Nephew 76 Farewell Address to the People of the United States, 1796 77 Union and Liberty 77 Party Spirit 79 Religion and Morality 81

PATRICK HENRY, 1736-1799 82 Remark on Slavery, 1788 84 Not Bound by State Lines 84 If This Be Treason, 1765 84 The Famous Revolution Speech, 1775 84

WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON, 1742-1779 87 George III.'s Abdication of Power in America 89

THOMAS JEFFERSON, 1743-1826 91 Political Maxims 94 Religious Opinions at the Age of Twenty 94 Scenery at Harper's Ferry, and at the Natural Bridge 95 On Freedom of Religious Opinion 98 On the Discourses of Christ 98 Religious Freedom (the Act of 1786) 98 Letter to his Daughter 100 Jefferson's Last Letter, 1826 101

DAVID RAMSAY, 1749-1815 103 British Treaty with the Cherokees, 1755 105 Sergeant Jasper at Fort Moultrie, 28 June, 1776 106 Sumpter and Marion 107

JAMES MADISON, 1751-1836 109 Opinion of Lafayette 110 Plea for a Republic 111 Character of Washington 112

ST. GEORGE TUCKER, 1752-1828 113 Resignation, or Days of My Youth 115

JOHN MARSHALL, 1755-1835 116 Power of the Supreme Court 117 The Duties of a Judge 118

HENRY LEE, 1756-1818 119 Capture of Fort Motte by Lee and Marion, 1780 120 The Father of His Country 124

MASON LOCKE WEEMS, 1760-1825 126 The Hatchet Story 126

JOHN DRAYTON, 1766-1822 127 A Revolutionary Object Lesson in the Cause of Patriotism 1775 128 The Battle of Noewee, 1776 129

WILLIAM WIRT, 1772-1834 131 The Blind Preacher (James Waddell) 132 Mr. Henry against John Hook 135

JOHN RANDOLPH, 1773-1833 137 Revision of the State Constitution, 1829 138

GEORGE TUCKER, 1775-1861 140 Jefferson's Preference for Country Life 142 Establishment of the University of Virginia 143

THIRD PERIOD ... 1800-1850.

HENRY CLAY, 1777-1852 147 To Be Right above All 148 No Geographical Lines in Patriotism 148 Military Insubordination 148

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, 1780-1843 151 The Star-Spangled Banner 151

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON, 1780-1851 153 The Mocking-Bird 155 The Humming-Bird 157

THOMAS HART BENTON, 1782-1858 158 The Duel Between Randolph and Clay, 1826 159

JOHN CALDWELL CALHOUN, 1782-1850 161 War and Peace 164 System of Our Government 164 Defence of Nullification 164 The Wise Choice 166 Official Patronage 167

NATHANIEL BEVERLEY TUCKER, 1784-1851 167 The Partisan Leader 168

DAVID CROCKETT, 1786-1836 173 Spelling and Grammar: Prologue To His Autobiography 173 On a Bear-hunt 175 Motto: Be Sure You Are Right 178

RICHARD HENRY WILDE, 1789-1847 178 My Life Is Like the Summer Rose 179

AUGUSTUS BALDWIN LONGSTREET, 1790-1870 180 Ned Brace at Church 180 A Sage Conversation 182

ROBERT YOUNG HAYNE, 1791-1839 185 State Sovereignty and Liberty 185

SAM HOUSTON, 1793-1863 189 Cause of the Texan War of Independence 190 Battle of San Jacinto, 1836 193 How To Deal With the Indians 196

WILLIAM CAMPBELL PRESTON, 1794-1860 199 Literary Society in Columbia, S. C., 1825 201

JOHN PENDLETON KENNEDY, 1795-1870 204 A Country Gentleman in Virginia 205 His Wife 207 How Horse-Shoe and Andrew Captured Five Men 210

HUGH SWINTON LEGARÉ, 1797-1843 217 Commerce and Wealth vs. War 217 Demosthenes' Courage 219 A Duke's Opinions of Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia, in 1825 221

MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR, 1798-1859 223 The Daughter of Mendoza 223

FRANCIS LISTER HAWKS, 1798-1866 224 The First Indian Baptism in America 225 Virginia Dare, the First English Child Born in America 226 The Lost Colony of Roanoke 226

GEORGE DENISON PRENTICE, 1802-1870 228 The Closing Year 228 Paragraphs 231

EDWARD COATE PINKNEY, 1802-1828 231 A Health 232 Song: We Break the Glass 233

CHARLES ÉTIENNE ARTHUR GAYARRÉ, 1805-1895 235 Louisiana in 1750-1770 236 The Tree of the Dead 240

MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY, 1806-1873 243 The Gulf Stream 246 Deep-Sea Soundings 247 Heroic Death of Lieutenant Herndon 249

WILLIAM GILMORE SIMMS, 1806-1870 252 Sonnet--The Poet's Vision 255 The Doom of Occonestoga 255 Marion, the "Swamp-Fox" 262

ROBERT EDWARD LEE, 1807-1870 265 Duty--To His Son 266 Human Virtue--At the Surrender 266 His Last Order, 1865 266 Letter Accepting the Presidency of Washington College 268

JEFFERSON DAVIS, 1808-1889 269 Trip To Kentucky at Seven Years of Age, and Visit to General Jackson 271 Life of the President of the United States 272 Farewell to the Senate, 1861 274

EDGAR ALLAN POE, 1809-1849 276 To Helen 279 Israfel 279 Happiness 281 The Raven 281

ROBERT TOOMBS, 1810-1885 284 Farewell to the Senate, 1861 286

OCTAVIA WALTON LE VERT, 1810-1877 288 To Cadiz from Havanna, 1855 289

LOUISA SUSANNAH M'CORD, 1810-1880 291 Woman's Duty 292

JOSEPH G. BALDWIN, 1811-1864 294 Virginians in a New Country 294

ALEXANDER HAMILTON STEPHENS, 1812-1883 296 Laws of Government 297 Sketch in the Senate, 1850 298 True Courage 301

ALEXANDER BEAUFORT MEEK, 1814-1865 301 Red Eagle, or Weatherford 302

PHILIP PENDLETON COOKE, 1816-1850 305 Florence Vane 305

THEODORE O'HARA, 1820-1867 308 Bivouac of the Dead 308

FOURTH PERIOD ... 1850-1895.

GEORGE RAINSFORD FAIRBANKS, 1820- 311 Osceola, Leader of the Seminoles 311

RICHARD MALCOLM JOHNSTON, 1822- 314 Mr. Hezekiah Ellington's Recovery 315

JOHN REUBEN THOMPSON, 1823-1873 317 Ashby 318 Music in Camp 319

JABEZ LAMAR MONROE CURRY, 1825- 321 Relations between England and America 322

MARGARET JUNKIN PRESTON, 1825- 324 The Shade of the Trees 324

CHARLES HENRY SMITH, ("BILL ARP"), 1826- 326 Big John, on the Cherokees 327

ST. GEORGE H. TUCKER, 1828-1863 329 Burning of Jamestown in 1676 330

GEORGE WILLIAM BAGBY, 1828-1883 332 Jud. Brownin's Account of Rubinstein's Playing 332

SARAH ANNE DORSEY, 1829-1879 336 A Confederate Exile on His Way to Mexico, 1866 338

HENRY TIMROD, 1829-1867 341 Sonnet--Life Ever Seems 344 English Katie 344 Hymn for Magnolia Cemetery 345

PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE, 1830-1886 346 The Mocking-Bird (At Night) 348 Sonnet--October 349 A Dream of the South Wind 349

JOHN ESTEN COOKE, 1830-1886 350 The Races in Virginia, 1765 351