But a nos moutons- to "The Quacks of Helicon." This satire has
many faults besides those upon which we have commented. The title, for
example, is not sufficiently distinctive, although otherwise good.
It does not confine the subject to American quacks, while the work
does. The two concluding lines enfeeble instead of strengthening the
finale, which would have been exceedingly pungent without them. The
individual portions of the thesis are strung together too much at
random- a natural sequence is not always preserved- so that,
although the lights of the picture are often forcible, the whole has
what, in artistical parlance, is termed an accidental and spotty
appearance. In truth, the parts of the poem have evidently been
composed each by each, as separate themes, and afterwards fitted
into the general satire in the best manner possible.
But a more reprehensible sin than an or than all of these is yet
to be mentioned- the sin of indiscriminate censure. Even here Mr.
Wilmer has erred through imitation. He has held in view the sweeping
denunciations of the Dunciad, and of the later (abortive) satire of
Byron. No one in his senses can deny the justice of the general
charges of corruption in regard to which we have just spoken from
the text of our author. But are there no exceptions? We should,
indeed, blush if there were not.
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