Supplement [pp. 341-348]

348 SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
son is either courageous or wise, he will turn upon his merciless
assailant as Byron turned upon Jeffrey, and prove that he can
not only do better things, but that he deserves more lenient
usage! Last but not by far the least in interest, is Mr. Joseph
A. Q. Z. Miller's "Autography." We copy the whole article
as a literary treat which we should wrong their tastes did we
suppose for a moment would not be as highly appreciated by
each and all of our readers, as it is by ourself."
From the Baltimore Chronicle.
The Southern Literary Messenger. The last number of this
periodical is, perhaps the best that has appeared, and shows that
the favor with which its predecessors have been received has
only added stimulus to the exertions of its enterprising proprietor and very able Editor. The number consists of 70 pages, all
of which are taken up with original matter. The prose articles
are generally of high merit-but the poetry of the present number is inferior to that of some of the preceding. The critical
notices are written in a nervous style and with great impartiality
and independence. The Editor seems to have borne in mind the
maxim of the greatest of reviewers -:" the judge is condemned
when the guilty is acquitted." The application of this severe
rule to all criticism would impart greater value to just commendation and render the censure of the press more formidable to
brainless pretenders. The public judgment is constantly deluded and misled by indiscriminate puffing and unmerited praise.
The present Editor of the Messenger is in no danger of doing
violence to his feelings in this respect.
From the Boston Mercantile Journal.
The Southern Literary Messeng er.-This is a periodical which
it is probably well known to many of outr readers, was established
a little more than a year since, in Richmond, Va. It is issued
in monthly numbers of about seventy pages each, and is devoted
to every department of Literature and the Fine Arts. Containing much matter of a brilliant and superior order, evidently the
productions of accomplished scholars and Belles Lettres writers, with able and discriminating critical notices of the principal
publications on this side the Atlantic, the Southern Literary
Messenger is equal in interest and excellence to any Monthly
Periodical in the country, and we are glad to learn from the February number that it has already received extensive and solid
patronage.
From the Norfolk Beacon.
The Southern Literary Messenger for February appears in all
its freshness. Tihe sketches of the history of the Barbary States
contained in the present number include the period of the equipment and departure of the French fleet destined for the attack on
Algiers. The account of the diplomatic movements of England
and France on the subject of the proposed capture is novel and
instructive. The tribute to the memory of Cushing we hail with
pleasure. If it be not a faultless production, it is written in a right
spirit. The review of Paul Ulric is written with great freedom
and unusual severity. The reviewer wields a formidable weapon. The article on Judge Marshall groups within a small compass much valuable and interesting intelligence respecting the
late Chief Justice. It is not executed, however in a workmanlike manner. The ungenerous allusion to Chapman Johnson
was wholly gratuitous. There is also a seasoning of federal politics, not referring to long past times, that ought to have been
spared us. But the article on Autography is a treat of no common order. We have seen nothing of the kind before in an American periodical. It must have cost Mr. White a great deal of
labor and expense in its typographical execution. What has
become of the excellent series of essays on the sexes, ascribed
to the pen of a distinguished professor of Wmi. & Mary i
From the Baltimore American.
The publication of the Southern Literary Messenger, for
March, was delayed beyond the usual time, for the purpose of
inserting in it an Address by Professor Dew, of Wm. and Mary
College, prepared to be delivered before the Virginia Historical
and Philosophical Society. The first copy sent to us having
miscarried, we have been further disappointed il the receipt of
this number, which has just now reached us. As yet we have
read but one article in it, but that is one of such merit on so interesting a subject, that it were nearly sufficient alone to give value to the number, without the aid of Mr. Dew's Address, to
which wve shall hereafter refer, doubting not to find it of high
excellence, as his reputation leads us to anticipate.
The article to which we allude is on' Manual Labor Schools,
and their importanice as connected with literary institutions.'
The introduction of manual labor as a regular departi-menat of
the school exercises is. we believe, one ol' the greatest improvements of the age, in the nost imnportanrt branch of human endeavor-the culturec of mas. Wire make no apology for frequently
recurring to this subject. As reasonable would it be to expect
apologies from the municipal authorities for directing their efforts daily, and with unrelaxedwatchfulness, to the keeping
pure and healthy the atmosphere of acity. The culture or education of human beings is a subject of unsurpassed moment and
of never ceasing interest. The principles upon which this culture
is to be conducted, and the modes of applying them, involve the
well being of communities and nations. We are glad therefore,
From the New Yorker.
The Southern Literary Messenger. —The February No. of this
periodical is before us —rich in typographical beauty as ever, but
scarcely so fortunate as in some former instances in the chliaracter of its original contributions. Such at least is our judgment;
and yet of some twenty articles the greater number will be perused with decided satisfaction. Of these, No. X. of the " Sketches
oj the History of Tripoli" and other Barbary States, affords an
interesting account of the series of outrages on the part of the
Algerine Regency which provoked the entire overthrow of that
infamous bariditti and the subjugation of the country. [We take
occasion to say here that we trust France will never restore the
Algerine territory to the sway of the barbarian and infidel, but
hold it at the expense, if need be, of a Continental War.]
" The Cousin of the Married and the Cousin of the Dead" is a
most striking translation, which we propose to copy.
"Living eione," by Timothy Flint, forms an exception to the
usual character of the poetry of the Messenger, which we do
not greatly affect. Mr. Flint, however, writes to be read —and
is rarely disappointed or disappoints his readers.
There are some amusing pictures of Virginia rural life and
domestic economy in the papers entitled "Lionel Granby" and
"Castellanus;" and the biographical sketch of the late President Cushing, of Hampden Sidney College, indicates a just State
pride properly directed. The " Sketches of Lake Superior" are
alike creditable to the writer and the Magazine. " Greece"
forms the inspiration of some graceful lines. But the' great feature' of this No. is an Editorial critique on Mr. Morris Mattson's
novel of "Paul Ulric," which is tomahawked and scalped after
the manner of a Winnebago. If any young gentleman shall find
himselfirresistibly impelled to perpetrate a novel, and all milder
remedies prove unavailing, we earnestly advise him to read this
criticism. We are not sufficiently hard hearted to recommend
its perusal to any one else.
The concluding paper will commend itself to the attention of
the rational curious. It embraces the autographs, quaintly introduced and oddly accompanied, of twenty-four of the most distinguished literary personages of our country —Mrs. Sigourney,
Miss Leslie, Miss Sedgwick, Messrs. Washington Irving, Fitz
Greene Halleck, Timothy Flint, J. K. Paulding, J. Fenimore
Cooper, Robert Walsh, Edward Everett, J. Q. Adams, Dr. Channing, &c. &c. We note this as an evidence of the energy no
less than the good taste of the publisher, and as an earnest of
his determination to spare no pains or expense in rendering the
work acceptable to its patrons.
to perceive, that in our new and promising race of literary
monthlies, education receives a large share of attention.
The paper before us in the Messenger. prepared by the Rev.
Mr. Stanton, is peculiarly interesting, because it embodies a
quantity of experience of the results produced by manual labor —
results, which though derived from comparatively few sources,
the number of institutions where the system has been introduced
being as yet small-are of the most emphatic and convincing
character. They already suffice to prove that the connexion of
manual labor establishments with literary institutions, is conducive not only in the highest degree to health, but to morals, and
to intellectual proficiency. Moreover —and this is a point of incalculable importance —in some of these institutions, a majority
of the students have by their labor diminished their expenses
about one half; a portion of them have defrayed the whole of their
expenses, and a few have more than defrayed thiem-enjoying
at the same time better health, and making more rapid advances
in knowledge than usual. The distinct testimony ofthe pupils as
well as superintendents, is adduced to prove the beneficial effects
upon body and mind, of three hours agricultural or mechanical
labor every day. One of these effects is described in the following language. "This system is calculated to make men hardy,
enterprising, and independent; and to wake up within them a
spirit perseveringly to do, and endure, and dare."
From the New York Evening Star.
The Southern Literary Messenger, for March, has been received, and a particularly good number it is. There is one point
in which this Messenger stands pre-eminent, and that point is
candor. If there is anty thing disgusting and sickening, it is the
fashion ofmagazine arnd newspaper reviewers of the present day
of plastering every thing which is heralded into existence with
a tremendous sound of trumpets —aplplaud every thing written
by the twenty-fifth relation distant of a really great writer, or the
author of one or two passable snatches of poetry, or every day
sketches.
From the Natchez Courier.
Last but not least, as the friends of a literature, emphatically
southern, we welcome the February number of the " Southern
Literary Messenger," a work that stands second to none in the
country. Its criticisms we pronounce to be at once the boldest
and most generally correct of any we meet with. True, it is very
severe on many of the current publications of the day; but we
think no unprejudiced man can say it is a whit too much so. The
country is deluged from Maine to Louisiana, with a mass of
stuff" done up" into books that require the most severe handling. The Messenger gives it to themn. It is a work which oueht
to be in the hand of every literary southerner, in particular. It
is published by 2'. W. TIvite Richmnond, Va.
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
348