Supplement [pp. 133-140]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
135
From the New York Courier and Enquirer.
Souitthern Literary Alessenger, for December
1835.-'I'here is no one of the litany periodicals of
our country, to the reception of which we look
forward with a greater certainty of satisfaction than
to this youns, but already more than adolescent
magazine. It is always above par, always distiin guishable foir correct style and pure En(rlish-for
neatness and elegance-rather per-haps than vigor,
or decided strength of original thought-thie ahsence of'which quality is perhaps sufficient to constitute a weak point, in what would otherwise be
almost faultless. In the department of criticism,
hovwever, this remark does not apply so fully-for
the notice of new works, in the Southern Messenger, are, we have no hesitation in saying it, the
boldest, the most independent, and unflinching, of
all that appears in the periodical world. Thlis is
as it should be-over-levity towards rising writers
is a mnore real sin than over-sternness; and wve are
sorry to say, it is a sit), into which most of our
magazines are wont to fall. This number is one
of more than average power, and the critiques on
The Hawks of Hawk-Hollow-the Linwoolsand Norman J,eslie wve especially recommend to
notice. They are evidently all written with equal
sincerity, an(I force of true opinion, and as such
command respect even where wae differ fronm them
in jutdgment. That on I)r. Bird's new book, fbr
instance, is too favorable; and indeed we think
that this gentleman is always overrated-that on
the Linwoods" is superlative, in truth, style, and
taste; while that on Normlan Leslie is severe to a
fault; inasmuch as the criticism, though we cannot
deny the truth of the greater portion of it, is paralyzed by the strong symptoms of personal hostility not to Mr. Fay only, but to all who may be
supposed to favor or admire him.
From the National Intelligencer.
Southern Litcrary Messen_,er.-This journal has, very unexpectedly left its Nor thern competitors behind in the race for fame,
and assumed all at once a pre-eminent rank amonr American
periodicals. W e have just recei ved the first number of the second
volume, and fied it superior, in every respect, to any of' the preceding ones. It contai ns 68 pages of closely printed matter, in
double columns. Besides the f6S pages of text it has a double
cover ot' S pares, containing matters relating1 to its own peculiar
iiiterests-thus avoiding the necessity of int ruding such subjects
in the text. Its paper is excellent, its type new, and its entire
mechanical execution superior to that ot' any Magazine with
which we are acquainted. The South has thus fai every reason
to be proud of the extraordinary success which has attenided the
Messen oer.
The first article in the present number is Chalter IX of the
Tripolitn Sketches, by Mr. R. Gree,how,it. of this city, a series of
piapers which, of themselves, would have been suffie nt to stamp
the Messenger with a character of no ordinary kind. The Extacts frotm Aly IMexrican Jiournal are excellent papers, on a subject of uintirins inierest. The 1d(dlress (if Lucian Minor, on Edu.
catioii, is likely to do much good, by attctinr' the attention of
Vi'giniais to the important subject it discusses-the orranrization
of District Schools. The Wissahiccon is a wishy-washy affair,
and deserves no praise whatever. Lionel Granby, Chapter VI.,
is full of fine thought, shrewdness, and oriiniality. The Specimens of Love Letters are curious and enrte.rtatiniiig-but the old
English Magaziiies are full of simihr articles, and the Messenger
silo lId have nothing to do with them. The MS. fotundins Bottle
is from the pen of Edgar.2. Poe. The Critical Notices occupy
more than o.e half of the number, and form the fullest Review
in the ciiuntry-embracing criticisms, at length, of nearly every
work lately published in America, besides a great uinumber of
English publications. A compendious divest of the principal
reviews, Eniglish and American, is included. The tote of the
criticisms differs widely from puffery, and is perlfectly independent.
The Poetry is, for the most part excellent. Scenes from Paoitian, a n unpublished Dram,a, by Edgar. Poe, occupy ab,.uttliree
pages. A little piece signed Eklzn is very ood.]; also, 2 Siketch,
by Aler. Lacry Beard, Marcelia, Ruins, A Sonnet to an infant
dyil-g, Lines to Mira, and a Translation. T'he covers contain
compliments ofthe highest order paid the Messenger by many of
the first papers in the Union. Among them we may mention the
New York Courier and Enquirer, the Portland Advertiser, the
Georgetown Metropolitan, the New Ertlanrd Galaxy, (all of
which place the Messenger decidedly at the head of American
Magazines,) Norfiolk Herald, Richmond Cimliler. Baltirri(tie
Patriot, Autgsta Chronicle, and a bust if others. We are truly
glad to see these flattering testimonials in betialfof Southern literature. We wish the eessenrer every possible success.
Fromn the Pennsylvranian.
The December number of the Southern Literary Messenger
has been received. The contributions appear to be of an excellent kind; at least, those from Mr. Poe and others, whose reputationis attracted our notice. The miost striking feature of the unsber, however, is the critical department. Eschewing all species
ofpufiery, the Messenger goes to work upon several of the most
popular novels of the day, and hacks and hews with a remorselessess anid an evideit enjoyment of the bu-irness, which is as
rare as it is amusing-, in an indigenous periodical. Ofthe justice
of the criticisms, we have not qualified ourselves to judge; but
their severity is manifest en,ough; and that is suc h a relief to the
dull monoitlony ofpraise which roils smooth in the wake of every
new book, that a roughness which savors of honesty and indepetidenice is welcome.
From the Globe.
We have read the first number of the second volume of thie
Sontitern Literary Messenger. It is highly spoken of, and deservedly so we think. The continued arid rapid improvenieiit of
this work justifies the zeal with which the proprietor intends Iprosecutinz his labois. They will ult:nately be crowned with distingutished success. That rlegion abounds in native talent, which,
when dive ted into that ch.ianiel, will reflect the same honoer,
upon the literature of our couintry, which it has claimed for the
bar, the bench, the legislative halls, and every other pursuit to
which it has been devoted.
From the Alexandria Gazette.
Southern Literary Messenger.-The December number, being
the first of the second volume of this periodical, has come to
hand, and we are prepared to welconme its appearance with cordial approbation.
No Maazirie in this country or elsewhere nowvz excels it in the
beauty of its typography.-Ilt is printed in the neatest mantier,
with the haidonsomest type, on the best paper.
We perceive a coistideralle improvemenit in the editorial de.
partmeiit, under which are conitained several well written and
judicious critical notices of new works.
Some of the Poetry in this number is excellent-a few of the
articles only so-so.
We recommentd the Messenger anew to all our readers, as a
publication worthy to be supported fi.r the credit of the South —
f'or its owvn intv,tisic merits and for the enterprising spirit of Mr.
White, its worthy proprietor.
Fromn the Norfold I-erald.
Southern Literary Messenger.-The first number of Vol. 2 of
this Magazine has come to hand,.reatly improved in outward
appearatie, as well as in literary mnerit. No Journal ofthis kind
in the cisuirtrv has experienced so rapid, so extensive, and so
urnequivocal I a success as the Southern Literary Messenger. It is
now, whether we consider tile extent of its patronage, the great
beauty of its mechanical appearance, or the lustre of the names
of its lregular coiitributors, the first Monthly Magazineii America.
In the variety, anid more especially in the originality ot its articles it has ino equal; and amoii other things we (must not fiorget
that the author of the Lunar Hoax is indebted to the a ns Phaal
of Mr. Poe (a regular contributor t, the Messenger r he conce)tion and in a great measure for the executioo -iscoveiies. Indleed several passagees in the two are _ entical.
As regards the amount of absolute matter coritaised oa nnumber
of' the Messenger, we canniot be far wrong in stating that it is
equal to that of aiiy two monthly Journals in the cotiunitry-witt
the exception perhaps of Littell's Museum, which is made up
altogether of selections fro,i, ftreign Magazines.
The presernt No. (No. 1. Vol. 2,) is by far the best yet issued.
In the first place wev have a continuation of the History and present condition of Tripoli, erith soine account of the other Barbary
Porers. These slietcl-es fro.n the pen of Robert Greenhow of
Washington, have acquired an extensive repuitationr. and the preserit chpter is equal to any of the series. By the bye, the last
riutm)ber of Harper's Family Library contains the " History and
present condition of the Barliary States," by the Rev. Dr. Russell. Here is surely a great similarity in the titles —more than
we can suppose to be accidental. We know that the sketches in
the Messenger commienced nine months ago. The Exiractsfrom
my Mexican Journal are highly initeresting, but would be better
were they more modern. The date of the last Eytract is 1 8-27.
Milior's Address on Education is one of the finest things of the
kind we have ever perused and we should not wonder ifit diew
public attention to the subject it discusses —the establishniment of
District Schools thirou-,h(ont Virginia upon a plan similar to that
in New Eriglandl. The Wissahiccon is not very creditable to the
Magazine —it milght, however be considered as tolerable elsewhere. Lionel Giasty is evidently written by a man (if ernius.
The present Chapter is the sevei th. The MS. found in a Bottle
is extracted 1re-m The Gift. Miss Leslie's beautiful Annual. It is
from thie pen of Edgar A. Poe, "whose eccentric genius," says