the large amativeness--the fluid movement of the population--the factories and mercantile life and laborsaving machinery--the Yankee swap--the New York firemen and the target excursion--the Southern plantation life--the character of the northeast and of the northwest and southwest--slavery and the tremulous spreading of hands to protect it, and the stern opposition to it which shall never cease till it ceases or the speaking of tongues and the moving of lips cease.

For such the expression of the American poet is to be transcendent and new.

It is to be indirect and not direct or descriptive or epic.

Its quality goes through these to much more.

Let the age and wars of other nations be chanted and their eras and characters be illustrated and that finish the verse.