Text: Various, “Opinions of the Press,” Southern Literary Messenger (Richmond, VA), vol. I, no. 8, April 1835, covers

[front cover, inside, continued:]

Extracts from Letters of Correspondents.

“Poe's story is well written — very well written. The “Stray Leaves” I should think came from the author of “Truth and Falsehood,” than which I have never seen more exquisite verses. There's a twinkling, silvery fancy about them, which I “most particularly admire.” This extends, not so much though, to the “Stray Leaves.” I have a pleasant recollection of one very, very beautiful scrap of poetry, for it was poetry; I will read it again this moment; there it is, open before me, “The Romance of Real Life;” a picture to which many a heart will be drawn, by the charm of sympathy. It is burningly true, and beautifully pathetic: I should like to shake hands with the author. The fifth number of “Tripoli,” is interesting and substantial. Your editor's remarks, are amusing and happy. He has a knack of tickling his subject into good humor, before the lash falls. Tell me, when you next write, who are the authors of “My Classmates,” and “The Doom,” (the latter is a powerful and nervous writer — the censures hurled against him, will fall harmless at his feet,) that is, if you violate no confidence in so doing. Who is Nugator, the witty sketcher?” [column 2:]

Norfolk, April 20, 1835.

Mr. White, — I perceive that, in printing the interesting proceedings of the Sons of Liberty in this place, in the year 1796, which you give us in your last number, you mention a Manuel Calvert as a member of the association, and chairman of the committee of correspondence. Now no such man was ever heard of in this quarter; but there was a Maximilian Calvert, some time Mayor of this Borough, who was a zealous whig of that day, and o doubt the person intended. Please to look again at the manuscript, and correct the error which unfortunately injures the memory of a worthy patriot. A Citizen of Norfolk.

[By reference to the manuscript, it is impossible to tell with precision what the name is; it is certainly not Maximilian, though it may have been so intended.]

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Opinions of the Press.

We have received the seventh number of Mr. White's “Southern Literary Messenger.” It equals any of its predecessors in its beautiful typography, and surpasses them all, probably, in the variety and excellence of its contents, nearly all of which are as usual, original. — National Intelligencer.

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The Southern Literary Messenger. — The seventh number of the Messenger has appeared some time since, but the press upon our columns prevented us from noticing its contents. The work is steadily advancing in merit, and bids fair, in a short time to be the great Southern vehicle of literary information. The present number contains the celebrated record of the proceedings of the sons of liberty, in Norfolk, in 1766, and which we have heretofore read more than once, with much interest; and which we are glad to see is now rescued permanently from accident or obliteration. The sketches of Tripoli are continued, and conclude with an account of the end of the brave, but ill-fate Eaton. The “Anecdote of Patrick Henry” is highly characteristic; this would alone stamp its authenticity. The scene in Paris by a Virginian, is to the life. The arrangement lately made, which will open the columns of the Messenger to the interesting communications of the Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society, will greatly enhance the interest and solid worth of our Southern periodical. But it is useless for us to say more — the work is in the hands of almost every body; but lest any one may have failed to subscribe, we would say to such person, that he does not act justly towards himself, or the cause of literature in the commonwealth. — Norfolk Beacon.

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Southern Literary Messenger. — We have read with more than ordinary gratification, the 7th number of this excellent periodical, which reflects so much credit on the literature of the South. The original matter is not only great in quantity but rich in quality. That the publisher may succeed according to his high desert, is our ardent wish. We could not express our approbation in stronger language. — Washington City Mirror.

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Southern Literary Messenger. — We have never known any periodical so universally commended by the public press, as the Messenger. Eulogy has literally been exhausted upon it: therefore we will say nothing, but submit the contents of the last number (VII,) now before us, and which upon perusal will be found not inferior to its predecessors. — Charlottesville Advocate.

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Literary Messenger. — We have looked over the last numbers of this interesting periodical, with more than ordinary satisfaction. Nay, we have felt more than satisfaction, a pride, that a publication, which was commenced under many doubts and discouragements, owing to the previous failures of literary journals in the South, should sustain itself with no much ability. With less of genius but more of industry, our Northern cities have made the principle contributions to the stock of American periodical literature; while the South has contributed more to the support of such productions than the country from which they emanated. In turning over the pages of the Messenger, we are glad to perceive that this state of things is in some measure reversed, by the circulation of the Messenger at the North, in which quarter many flattering notices have been taken of this production.

The numbers of the Messenger before us, abound in articles of much excellence, both original and selected, from which much instruction as well as pleasure can be derived. We are not disposed, nor is it necessary to particularize, although some articles have suited our taste better than others. The lovers of chaste literature will much entertaining by adding this work to their stock of periodical literature. — Kanawah Banner.

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The Southern Literary Messenger. — We have given this monthly visitant a hasty glance, and find it, as usual, well stored with a variety of pleasing and useful articles, which cannot but recommend it to every lover of light reading, and especially to every Virginian who has any pretensions to literary taste or mental refinement.

We have transferred to our first page, the greater part of the essay headed “Marrying Well,” which is dated “Philadelphia,” and in which we recognise the hand of one well know to our readers as a political writer. It is some years, we believe, since our friend has indulged in exploring the regions of fancy, and we are happy to find that neither the cares of business, nor the exciting scenes of political strife, in which he has been engaged, have wholly abstracted his mind from the “world of bright dreams,” or “frozen away the genial current of his soul.” — Philadelphia Pennsylvanian. [back cover:]

Southern Literary Messenger. — It gives us pleasure to speak well of this new Southern periodical — not only because it is intrinsically meritorious in a high degree, but because it gratifies us to see our Southern brethren determined to do themselves justice, and to build themselves up, as they are so abundantly capable of doing, a periodical literature of their own. No portion of the Union possesses more material than the south, and we are glad to see it put in requisition. The Messenger is published by T. W. White, at Richmond, Va., and the number (seven,) now before us, is made up with great taste and judgment. The original matter is for the most part well written, and the selections judiciously made. We wish the publication every success. — New York Cour. & Enquirer.

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Southern Literary Messenger. — The seventh number of this valuable periodical, printed at Richmond, VA. by Mr. T. W. White, is to hand, and fully sustains the reputation which its previous numbers had acquired. It is indeed, an instructive, amusing and diversified journal, adapted to the tastes and wants of intelligent families of all classes, calculated for preservation in volumes, and furnishing sufficient practical and scientific information to form a useful, elegant and permanent source of gratification, long after the date of its appearance. The publisher seems to be fully aware of the universal conceded fact, that no periodical can exercise a beneficial influence upon the literature of a people, unless directly supported by a variety of talent to secure a continual supply of original composition. The time is rapidly passing away, when the reading community of America will be satisfied with the refuse of a foreign market. A judicious selection of articles from abroad, adds to the piquancy and spirit of a publication; but the ground work must be ORIGINAL; the principal fountain must be within itself, or it cannot possess an individual and nation character. We are sorry to see on the cover so few subscribers from North Carolina. It must be, because the standing and character of the work is not sufficiently appreciated. It is with the view of attracting the attention of our readers to its merits, that we write this notice. — Raleigh, N. C., Register.

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The seventh number or “The Southern Literary Messenger,” has found its way to our table. This work, as well as some others, makes its appearance like Angels visits “few and far between.” We are pleased to find the Messenger so well sustained, not only by the very liberal patronage which it has received, but by the sterling character of its original articles. The number of which we speak, is decidedly superior to any of its predecessors, which we have seen. — Camden, S. C., Journal.

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Southern Literary Messenger. — The seventh number of this highly interesting and beautiful periodical is received, and its contents, are, as usual, striking, attractive, and entertaining. In its poetical department, are several very sweet and beautiful gems such as “To Hope,” “Hopes and sorrows,” :Moonlight,” “Stray leaves,” “Young Rosalie Lee,” &c. (though the beautiful thoughts and delicate sentiments in the last mentioned, are somewhat marred by abruptness of measure and quaintness of style.) Indeed, the poetical department of the work, generally is unsurpassed, we think, it equalled, by that of any other periodical in the country. The prose articles, too, so far as we are able to judge of them, from the hurried glance, only, which we have as yet been able to take into them, are generally well written, and highly interesting — the “Sketches of Tripoli,” &c. particularly, which with the previous numbers, we have read with great pleasure and consider them the most striking, instructive, and satisfactory records of the events connected with our Algerine difficulties, that we have ever met with. The narrative of Eaton's gallant, daring, and successful enterprize, in forming a communication with the exiled Hamet, traversing the desert with him, braving and reconciling the violent outbreakings of the fierce, lawless, and turbulent Arabs, and with them and few christian followers, attacking and conquering Derrne, and afterward defeating the greatly superior forces of the Tripolines, is exceeding striking and romantic, and fully sustains the assertion, that “truth is strange — stranger than fiction.” It cannot fail to excite the strongest interest in the character of that fearless and heroic man, and regret that so brilliant an achievement should have been rendered useless to him and his country, and almost unknown to the world, by the cold and selfish policy which abandoned its great advantages, and pledges to the unfortunate Hamet, to an over-anxious desire for peace — regret, too melancholy regret, that the high hopes of such a man should have been marred by such a result; and that he should have ended in disappointment, and almost discredit, a life capable of the noblest and most glorious efforts, had he found a suitable field for the exercise of them.

We perceive that these “sketches” place the dethroned Hamet in possessions of the small approbation made for him by Congress, as some atonement for the abandonment of his cause, after it could no longer promote our own — also of his family, and, ultimately, the provinces of Derne and Bengazi. We were under the impression, and have seen it so stated, that he died shortly after our treaty of peace with the usurper Yusuf, his brother, and before the appropriation reached him; and are not a little gratified to find that it was not so.

The singular tale of “Berenice,” by EDGAR A. POE, developes [[develops]] much beauty and elegance of style, but is altogether too full of the wild, mysterious, horrible, and improbable. “Jonathan Bull and Mary Bull,” illustrative of the differences between the North and South, on the subject of slaver, is happy and humorous. “Reminiscences of a Western Traveller,” are interesting and finely written, and striking in their developements [[developments]] of western incidents and character. And the “Letters from a Sister,” “Marrying [column 2:] Well,” “Persian Story,” “Scene in Paris,” &c. &c. seem to be full of talent and interest, and, together with the revolutionary anaecdotes [[anecdotes]], and numerous readers of the work, which, highly creditable as it is to Southern character, and Southern literature, so long and shamefully and injurious neglected, ought to number among its readers every intelligent, patriotic, and public spirited individual of the South. — Augusta, Geo., Courier.

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Mr. White's Literary Messenger. — We did not take up the seventh number of the Messenger until within a few days, or we should sooner have expressed the pleasure its perusal has afforded us. The sixth number we thought had receded in value from some of its predecessors, but this supplies the deficiency, and shows a decided superiority over all that went before it. Mr. White we think has solved the problem most satisfactorily, whether a literary periodical can be sustained under our Southern skies. He has but to keep the ground he was won, to establish the Messenger permanently, and to make it a source of profit to him, and of pleasure and utility to the public. The contents of the seventh number show a manifest improvement in taste, and more force and accuracy of thought.

We shall not go beyond our depth in attempting special criticism; but we may be permitted to express our preference for two articles about the rest, contained in the seventh number — “Marrying Well,” and “a Scene in Paris, by a Virginian.” They would adorn any repository. The author of the last is fit for the great task of writing history, which we understand to be the highest compliment that can be paid to human genius: “Marrying Well,” we hope may prove of some use in a country where as many daughters are sold into legal prostitution as any other. The sketches of Tripolitan history, maintain the excellence of the first chapters, but they lose interest with us as they come down to modern times. — Richmond Whig.