Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-11-03

Ths scntLern Literary Messengey We have now be
fore us the September number OF this very excellent Pc
rodica and though we have heretofore noticed il i'm
terms OF high appreciation, withhold renewed
testimony 10 Its increasing merits The present number
IKE all me preceding Ones entirely original only
in the subjects but in the manner OF treating them We
see that the writers have consulted their tastes
opinions ana feelings; that they not harnessed in the
traces OF imaton enlisted under the dcspotism Of
fashionable notions adopted without examination and
sanctioned only by popular names Hence there is in
almost all the articles an air of noveit which
in itself is dist xccllencc Perod
Gals that aec 70 DC the ccnsors of public manners the
guides of the public taste, should not be the mere
echoes of the opinions Of others They should stem
the tide of false taste and injurious Innovation in.
stead of going with the current, and acceleratng its
force by preccpt and example. In short they should
think for themselves. and strive iuculcate lust modes
Ct thinking and acting in oilers Instead Of initiating
Metropolitan, think il would be far better To a,lap,
their columns to tie uses of their country The
style and the productions Of old corrupt and
nations, is fit for the cxigences of young vigorous
and growing people still retaining all its primitive
gics, and requiring intellectual nonrishnent CORES
ponding with its age, its habits and its situation We
have much IN our manners habits and modes of living
which requires the lash Of satire; much of extravaganza
and false taste, which well applied rdicule alone can
correct or repress; and IL is of the first duties
OF light miscellaneous periodical launch its ar
rows against such transgressons The fear of giving Of
fence 10 the few should make them neglect The i'm.
forests OF the many for their first object should be TO be-
nrft their country-By such course alone can they
fulfill their high Obligations and feel satisfied that nv
amply rewarded by public patronage. '
The present nunler in some degree realizes ideas
OF American periodical Ii the mere reflection
OF imported opinions, and imported manners 1t is the
product of the SOIL and stamped with the of
ITS nativity 1t is not mere distlluion from memory
not he squeez ngs of the almost dry sponge of Tie old
world but the fresh and vigorous offspring of soil which
only requires cultivation to produce the richest products
Among the articles which afforded us Particular
pleasure, we would notice " The Introductory Lecture
orJames NJ Garnett of Virginia. the subject of Edu
cation" All the productions of Mr. Garnett that VIC
have abound just easonin U.s. leading to important
conclusions applicable to his own country and of most
important practical consequence. The present lecture
is devoted 10 inquiry the "Obstaclcs of Education
arising from the peculiar faults of parents teachers and
scholars and those who direct and control our schools
and colleges The subject is peculiarly important and
we recommend Mr. Gnrnett's lecture To- the calm con-
sidcrae attention of all those whose faults has detail
Ed. Is ths work oil man OF deep reflection, great
pericnce and of powerful intellect capable of turning
e results oil that experience to purposes of practical
Loss of Breath; A Tale la Blockwood BIZ Edgar A
Poe. is capital buresque of the wild extravogan dis.
Jon,ed gmarolc with which that much over. rated and
oyer-praised magazine is redundant The writer has
mt OIL admirably The false, extra VACANT aud
humour-tle inconclusive nohings, and the rude bal
ness OF so many of its articles, of which the beginning
the middc and the end nothing The reader finds ii
lmpossioe TO iahom the object precisely because the
writer had no object, could develops the com.
pIrShenson of common sense. We have eye on Mr..
Edgar a. Poe, and from what We have already seen of
HIM, venture TO predict ii will be long before his
name will stand on level with those of much higher
pretensions.
The notice of &c Stories about General Warren" and
the accompanying extracts, particularly nteresting
as giving various particulars of who has hitherto
pfen only generally known of the earliest
to the liberties of his country. This is the literary ali
ment which should be served up to our children aye
and our men and too, order 10 inspire then
with noble feelings, through the influence of noble x
amples
There are many other articles in this number which
deserve equal notice and ndation, did our limits
permit. But we must deny ourselves the pleasure of
parcularisng them, merely Observing that in general
the prose is better than the poetry simply because the
latter Is somewhat vtated by imitation of bad models
why VIII not our young poets attempt describe their
own ieriings and Impressions, instead of merely disl.
ing IN tckling namby pamby the thoughts of others
and sometimes no thoughts all; or if they will CON
eemn themselves to everlasting mediocrty by imitation
why VIII they not attempt better models? There are
other poets in the English language than Byron and
Moore who have superseded tie old masters of the lvrc
ana WIZ IN less Than half century, be superseded by
ITEM AGAIN They not to be dcihruned from the EN-
pre- oil farnassus, by these modern UPSTAIRS The lofty
morality, the unaffected simplicity, the philosoplc DIG
nhy, and the beautiful appeals only to our reason
but to the finer feelings of the human heart which
abound in the writer's OF the Golden Age of Engis, no
etry, not trust destined mue longer 10 be o,sr n
red by the dark, vicious, lcenfous and abored isnn
throPy of Byron the light voluptuous scnsuality OF
Moore We shall one day return nature and reason
ana poetry Will again become the hand maid of virtue
There is air Of independence about the criticisms
which becoming in all who undertake TO preside in the
courts oil literature But we differ entirely from some OF
the principles adopted by the Messenger Most espcci
ally do we denouncc the assertion of Victor HUGO quot
cd, as we understand it, with appreciation by the ciitic
that Racine, Bossuet Boileau Pascal Fenelon In Fon
tame, Corneille and Votarc would be but common RI
ers it not for their styc This one of the mo GO
tangled French opinions fashionable in Paris and in IN,
true French spirit places the rule before the shirt II
an eScTescence OF the musical mania PREVAILING in thai
quarter, and is founded the superiority of sound over
sense ana OF the ears over the understanding
gous ITO The taste of fine lady, who thinks much more OF
the dress of than Of the himself Such opinion
distinctly mark the decline of literature in France and
we do not wonder that Monsieur Victor Hugo should
be considered prodigy, among people who prefer
sound TO sense F''~-
But this isa trihng drawback on our general apnroba
ton-Ihe sister States, and Virginia most esnecal 10
should encourage the Literary Messenger II sbe dss
not from love Of literature she should do il From, 80
gard to her honor, which cannot but be enhances
by having of the BEST if not the very best erorS
periodical IN America.-N Y Cour. & Eng
ENLARGEMENT OF THE Erie CAxAL-The Cana
for the improvement of the Erie Canal and the
having submitted their reports the Board on Friday last
proceeded to final decision the of the enlarge
ment by their resolutions which are annexed il will
be seen that The enlarged Canal TO be seven feet
and seventy feet wide the surface; and that The lock-
are to be ITO feet long between the auon posts and M
feet wide in the clear. The present canal is four feet
deep and forty feet wide the surface and the presc
locks are 30 feet long between the quon posts and Is
feet wide in the clear.
Thus, this great question has been dcfnitivey settled
alter mature dellberaon snd full expression OF the pub
sentiment in relation IT, AS tile work will he nro
secuted chiefly during the winter months and while the
navigation Is suspended, its completion cannot be
Pccted IN less period than ten twelve years Then
with ITS increased width and depth its walled sides lis
extent ana ITS vast commerce, it may rank among the
wonders of the age. The improvements we unders, nd
ls estimated to cost about twelve millions of dIlars Tire