Read Ebook: The Southern Literary Messenger Vol. II. No. 8 July 1836 by Various Poe Edgar Allan Editor

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"Leaves from my Scrap Book," includes much that is excellent within a limited space. The writer has improved his naturally correct taste by close communion with the ancient and modern classics.

A Tale of Jerusalem, is one of those felicitous "hits," which are the forte of Edgar A. Poe. The point, like that of an epigram, lies in the conclusion.

The "critical notices" of the present number, evince the usual ability of the editor in this department; though, what is more to our taste, not quite so caustic, as hitherto. We accord with the review of the "Culprit Fay." The merits of this poem, despite the praise lavished upon it, when critically sifted, will be found to be like the little Ouphe himself, rather a small affair.

Our article has been lengthened so far beyond the usual limits as to preclude attention to the poetical department.

From the Norfolk Herald.

From the National Gazette.

The May number of the Southern Literary Messenger contains several excellent articles. Mr. Calvert's Lecture on the Literature of Germany may be commended to the attention of all who are either about studying the German language, or would wish to know something of the authors of that country. His descriptions, though necessarily brief, are satisfactory, and his estimates of the comparative merits of the authors he mentions, are, in general, judicious. The MSS. of Benjamin Franklin are from the same source which furnished some for the April number. They will be read with interest by all. The chapter of Lionel Granby does not advance the thread of the story. It describes a visit of the hero to Lamb and pictures his guests, Coleridge, Godwin, &c. "Odds and Ends" is the title of an attempt to divide mankind into genera and species, such as have not yet been named in any work on natural history. It will furnish amusement and perhaps instruction to the reader. The author is an old correspondent of the Messenger. The essay entitled "American Social Elevation," deserves great commendation. How fatal to the advancement of society too great attention to money-making and politics is proving in this country, is well exhibited, and remedies for this are judiciously suggested. A new account of the origin of Lynch's law is given, which is probably the true one.

From the Baltimore American.

In the Southern Literary Messenger for April, which reached us a few days since, the Editor opens the department of "critical notices" with some spirited and just remarks on the puffing system, as practised in this country towards native writers, and a vindication of his own course. He is on the strong side, whatever number or influences may be arrayed against him, and will do much good even though he run occasionally into the extreme of severity. Many people really believe, by dint of reading the repeated praise bestowed on them, that the marrowless prose fictions and "baseless" verse of the day constitute a Literature. Let the editor of the Messenger and others, go on purging their judgment of such crude notions, and assuming a high standard of literary merit, require substantial qualifications in candidates for fame, and condemn unsparingly all who do not unite genius with cultivation, a union indispensable for the production of works of permanent value.

From the Baltimore Athenaeum.

From the Baltimore Athenaeum.

We cannot enter into an analysis of the entire number of the Messenger before us; it is however highly interesting, as is usual with all the issues of this Magazine. The paper called "Odds and Ends," we recommend to the especial perusal of all who have any desire to reform their manners and morals. It is a pleasant and well conceived satire.

Some of the northern critics have intimated that Simms was the editor of the Messenger. This is an error. It is now edited, as we understand, by Edgar A. Poe, formerly of this city, a young gentleman of excellent talents, and untiring industry. He is earning for himself a fine reputation.

From the Baltimore Patriot.

From the Baltimore Patriot.

From the New Yorker.

"MSS. of Benjamin Franklin" form the opening paper of the Magazine--three hitherto unpublished though characteristic essays from the pen of the first eminent philosopher and sage whom America can claim as her own. 'A Lecture on Providence' is replete with the profound yet perspicuous common sense which was ever so prominent a feature in the character of the inventor of the lightning-rod; while the letters of 'Anthony Afterwit' and 'Celia Single' are in his lighter vein of humorous utilitarianism which would have done no discredit to the pen of Addison.

"Genius" is discussed in the succeeding prose paper, and to better purpose than in the majority of essays on the subject. The writer maintains that "Genius, as it appears to me, is merely a decided preference for any study or pursuit, which enables its possessor to give it the close and unwearied attention necessary to ensure success." This proposition is stoutly and ably maintained, and, though we cannot concur in it fully, we believe it much nearer the truth than is generally supposed. If true at all, it is a profitable truth, and should pass into an axiom with all convenient celerity.

"Some Ancient Greek Authors Chronologically Considered," is an article evincing profitably directed research, which we shall copy.

"March Court" is a sketch so exclusively Virginian, that we can hardly judge of its merit.

"The Death of Robespierre" is a dramatic sketch--a species of writing which we do not properly appreciate. We, who do not worship even Shakspeare, cannot bow to the sway of his humbler satellites.

"Woman" is the topic of the succeeding paper--judicious and sensible, but not very original or forcible, considering that the essayist is a lady.

"Leaves from a Scrap Book" will be found among our literary selections. We regret that its Greek characters and phrases compelled us to exclude the author's forcible illustration of the disadvantages under which the earlier poets labor in a comparison with the moderns. Nothing could be more conclusive.

The Editorials of the number are ably written, though some pages are devoted to a solution of the mystery of the Automaton Chess-Player, doubtless the correct one, viz. that, after all the scrutiny which it has undergone, there is actually a man concealed in the pretended machinery. We are not sure that this demonstration, conceding it to be such, is worth the space it necessarily occupies.

In the matter of Criticism, the Messenger has involved itself in a difficulty with some of our Northern periodicals, either party, as is not unusual in such cases, being just about half right. The Southern Editor has quite too savage a way of pouncing upon unlucky wights who happen to have severally perpetrated any thing below par in the literary line, like the Indian, who cannot realize that an enemy is conquered till he is scalped, and some of the mangled have no more policy than to betray their soreness by attempts at retaliation, under very flimsy disguises, invariably making the matter worse. We think the Messenger often quite too severe, as in the case of 'Norman Leslie,' but still able and ingenuous. The Poems of Drake and Halleck are reviewed this month--neither of them after the fashion of an ardent and awed admirer--but faithfully, fairly, and with discrimination.

In conclusion, we take pleasure in remarking the fact that the cause of literature at the South is so flourishing as it appears to be at present. We believe the whole number of periodicals which may be distinguished as literary on the other side of the Potomac, has more than doubled during the last two years, and that their circulation has increased in at least equal proportion. We rejoice at this state of things, though it may be justly thought to militate against our own personal interest. The South has interests and feelings which find little real sympathy with us, though a profound and respectful deference elsewhere; and it is right that she should have literary as well as political journals to maintain those interests and challenge respect for those feelings. We shall not grudge them a generous patronage.

From the Charlottesville Advocate.

We like such collections of scraps, as are bundled together in the piece headed "Random Thoughts."

"A Lecture on German Literature," by George H. Calvert, of Baltimore, is a pregnant outline of a great deal that is inestimable in the literary store houses of probably the most enlightened nation on earth.

The article headed "Verbal Criticism," is of a sort which all the repositories and guardians of Literature ought oftener to contain: brief reprehensions of too prevalent errors in language; interspersed with curious philological remarks.

"O would some Power the giftie gie us, To see oursels as others see us! It would frae mony a blunder free us, And foolish notion."

But instead of doing so, we wince, swear, and call names, at the slightest hint from a foreigner that our country and all belonging to it, are not the very beau ideal of perfection. It must be thus, if we would make those advances towards perfection which the true patriot covets for his country. Pope's precept applies no less to nations than to individuals--

"Paulding's Washington," "Anthon's Sallust," "Walsh's Didactics," "Mellen's Poems," and Lieutenant Slidell's "Spain Revisited," are reviewed in a manner at once kind, just, and interesting.

The Number contains a good deal of original Poetry; the merits of which we must consign to the judgment of those who have more pretensions to taste in poetry than we have.

We wish the Messenger all honor and prosperity--a steadily increasing list of punctually paying subscribers.

From the New Yorker.

"The Right of Instruction" is ably and temperately discussed in the leading article, which we may safely attribute to the pen of Judge Hopkinson, of Pennsylvania. The essay denies the right of a Legislature to instruct authoritatively the U. S. Senators of the State--or rather, the obligation of the Senators to obey unhesitatingly such requisition. We shall take cognizance of this subject in another place at an early day; but, for the present, we must be content with the remark that the argument drawn from the spirit of the Constitution and the intent of its framers is formidable, if not conclusive.

"Perdicaris," a sketch of the Greek scholar now lecturing on the literature and polity of his native land, is only remarkable for a translation of a beautiful little poem 'from the Romaic of Christopoulos.'

"MSS. of Benjamin Franklin" are continued in this number.

"Losing and Winning" is one of the most quietly affecting and excellent tales that we have perused for months. Let who will declaim against the evils wrought by fiction, we are sure that this same story contains more true practical wisdom--more forcible persuasives to the paths of virtue and duty, than many a well-intended volume of fact or direct exhortation.

"The Swan of Loch Oich" is fair verse, and fair only.

"Ulea Holstein--A Tale of the Northern Seas," is touching in its catastrophe, but not well imagined. The writer is evidently no veteran.

We have sometimes fancied we had reason to dislike the poetical contributions to the Messenger, while we were better suited with the prose. In the number before us there are three articles in verse--"The Laughing Girl," "A Birth-Day Tribute," and "Thy Home and Mine,"--which would do credit to any periodical. The Editor is evidently 'weeding out' as well as strengthening his crops of contributors, much to the advantage of his work.

"Court Day" and "My First Attempt at Poetry," are both well done.

The Editorial Criticisms are spirited but just. "Recollections of Coleridge," Colton's "Religious State of the Country," &c. &c. are praised without stint; while Col. Stone's unfortunate "Ups and Downs in the Life of a Distressed Gentleman," is most unsparingly shown up. We like the independence, the directness, of the Editor, though he sometimes contrives to tread emphatically on the corns of an author for whom we have a tenderness. In the present instance, however, he has managed to be just right throughout, and our appreciation of his labors is graduated accordingly.

From the National Gazette.

From the Boston Galaxy.

From the United States Gazette.

From the Methodist Conference Sentinel.

From the Petersburg Constellation.

From the Winchester Virginian.

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