POEMS, 1830-1833.
37
Hitherto the young poet's critics had been friendly, nay, almost reverential in their tone; but in May, 1832, came a review from Professor Wilson—the Christopher North of "Blackwood's Magazine"—treating the young poet and his worshippers in a very off-hand manner: speaking of the former with mingled praise and blame, and overwhelming the latter with ridicule.[1] This review contains copious extracts from
- ↑ "'The Englishman's Magazine' ought not to have died; "for it threatened to be a very pleasant periodical. An essay 'On the Genius of Alfred Tennyson' sent it to the grave. The superhuman—nay, supernatural—pomposity of that one paper incapacitated the whole work for living one day longer in this unceremonious world. The solemnity with which the critic approached the object of his adoration, and the sanctity with which he laid his offerings on the shrine, were too much for our irreligious age. The 'Essay on the Genius of Alfred Tennyson' awoke a general guffaw, and it expired in convulsions. Yet the essay was exceedingly well written, as well as if it had been 'On the Genius of Sir Isaac Newton.' Therein lay the mistake. Sir Isaac discovered the law of gravitation; Alfred had but written some pretty verses, and mankind were not prepared to set him among the stars. But that he has genius is proved by his being at this moment alive; for had he not, he must have breathed his last under that critique. The spirit of life must indeed be strong within him; for he has outlived
printed, 1853. Third edition (published) with portrait, London, 1863, pp. Ix. 305.
