It is said of him that, "half a century ago the now-forgotten singer's name was one of the brightest poetical names of the dcLY, and alwa^'s mentioned along with those of Bryant, Dana, Halleck, Percivale, Pierpont, Pinckney, Sprague, and Woodworth. " Leggett, in his Biographies of American Poets, included Brooks and excluded Dana. Another early poet, once of considerable celebrity, but long since forgotten, w^as Henry Pickering. He was born in the latter part of the eighteenth century at Newburgh, in the house which is now known as Washington's Headciuarters. His own description of that house may be appropriately quoted here :

Square and rough-hewn, and solid is the mass. And ancient, if aught ancient here appear. Beside yon rock-ribb'd hills: but many a year Hath into dim oblivion swept, alas! Since bright in arms, tlie. worthies of the land Were here assembled. Let me reverent tread; For now, meseems, the spirits of the dead Are slowly gathering round, while I am fann'd By gales unearthly. Ay, they hover near -- Patriots and Heroes -- the august and great -- The founders of a young and mighty state. Whose grandeur who shall tell? With holy fear, While tears unbidden my dim eyes sufftise, I mark them one by one, and marvelling muse.

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I gaze, but they have vanish'd; and the eve, Free now to roam from where I take my stand, Dwells on the hoary pile, let no rash hand Attempt its desecration: for though I Beneath the sod shall sleep, and memory's sigh Be there for ever stifled in this breast, -- Yet all who boast them of a land so blest, Whose pilgrim feet may some day hither hie, -- Shall melt, alike, and kindle at the thought That these rude walls have echoed to the sound Of the great Patriot's voice' that even the ground I tread was trodden too by him who fought To make us free; and whose unsullied name.