From a.e soatheD Literayy .Msssenges. THE DECLINE OF POETRY.

BY PAYNE KENYON K1LsouRN.
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 "The poetic era is with the past, wrote the famous Christopher North, more than a quarter of century ago; and it needs not the ken of magician to divine that the spirit of the present age bears withit no indication of speedy return of the "good old times," when Dante, md Ho- mer, and Sapho enchanted the world witle melody of their numbers, and shed the lustre of their genius and the glory of their renown upon the eras and countries in which they lived. And if it be indeed true. that the pure and elevated sen,i- mcnts which form tho principal elements of the poetic spirit,ar on the decline-if the prevailing opinions which character. isc our age and nation are not tending to. elevate us in the scale of intelligent, thinking, rational beings-then it is in- cumbenl upon all whs rejoice in the we'll being of their race, to endeavor to disco. yer the causes, and point out remedy. Without going into an examination of the correctness of the sentiment above ads vanced, we shall take it's truth upon trust, believing as we do in the quaint old axis om, /" What all allncKnewledge, must be so.'' 'The voice of the people is the voice of God" saith Jefferson, ,--and what autho- rity have indiuiduGls to controvert the lan- guage of Divinilyl

 What, then. are among the prominent causes which have led to such resul.a It must have been evident to the observa>, ton of all, that in recent years the pub. lie mind, especially in this couniegy has been the theatre of alternate excitement and depression. engendered by th4 pre-. vailing spirit of mainmon. Catching the strange infection, the man of science has. left his laboratory, the studen. his books, the lawyer, his briefs." and too often. alas! the minister a, ihe altar, a..d :he poet al his Tyre. have left their high and honorable calling, 10 engage in some reckless scheme of sei,aggrandzement ! How many inlellects which have given evidence of superior culture, and whose early literary efforts gave fair promise of lofty achievements, becoming debased by lhis sordid desiie. for gain, have dsap- pearcd from the Armament like bright stars obscured or ecIipsed iu the zenith of their glory How many warm hearts have been seared-robbed of all their gushing sympa,hies and finer emotions by the same unhallowed influence! And how many. too, whose harps were ever tuned to the cause of goodness and virtue. are silent now. or wake their numbers to the melody ofa higher sphere!

 r. They. the young and strong. who shsFishe3 l Earnest iongings for the strife.

 By the roadside fell and perisAed-- ,sssg Wearisd with the march Of life r.

 