Text: Anonymous, “[Review of the Southern Literary Messenger for August, 1836],” Providence Daily Journal (Providence, RI), vol. VIII, no. 44, September 15, 1836, p. 2, col. 3

[page 2, column 3, continued:]

The “Southern Literary Messenger” for August, was received some time since, and sustains the well earned reputation of that periodical. We perceive that the merits and demerits of this work have “been pretty freely canvassed by many of our contemporaries. The chief cause of complaint is the alleged unmerciful and unchristian manner in which the editor has cut up sundry new publications that have fallen under the condemnation of his critical pen. — Having read but a few of the critical notices in this Magazine, we are not prepared to say what truth there may be in the allegation; those which we have perused, we have found marked with good sense, accurate taste, and apparently with impartiality; and although some poor fellows have certainly received a pretty good drubbing at his hands, it seemed very well deserved. The practice of indiscriminately pulling and plastering every thing that issues from the press — a practice that with many people passes for reviewing — is of essential injury to the cause of letters. His worst enemy could wish many an editor no more punishment than to be compelled to read all he praised. If we would have a healthful, correct and vigorous literature, the faults of our authors must be commented upon, as well as their beauties.