Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-01-24
THE MESSENGER,-Gr Jansa,y.

~
The Southern Literary MESSENGER. tbe;o. tho Ia,
No. Of the 9th volume is one Of the riches, and
ao'est which has made Its appearance.
;" scheme for rebuilding Southern Commerce."
accompanied by a well-eng,ased illustrative char. is
especially a paper o. gteat value, and chimes in mos,
happily with the temper of The times; aud not the
less so, that IL cndeayors to trace the rapid decline Of
Southern to cause which has not here
totorc been referred to IN the numerous discussions
OF tins important subject, and points to a remedy
winch Of course possesses the same character Of no
ve'fy. The concentration -four foreign commerce
at New \ ork, this writer, whose style Is at once pol
'shcd and nervous. attributes mainly. If not cxciu-
s'vely TO the introduction in 1916, by JeIem,sh
Thompson, a Quaker merchant, of packet ships,
sailing puneiually on appointed days. with o, without
cargocs, bct~c cen New York and Liverpool-a
scheme which, in the ou,se, was deridcd as visionary
and foolish. but which has SO amply demonstrated its
utility, as well as the wise foresight OF its originator,
~that'he!e are p'cke, lines, sailing with all he regularity
OF the mail, not only between those erea, commercial
points, but from New York to London, uavre, &c.
abroad, and TO every por, of commercial consequence
upon our own Atlantic sea boaid-" daily drawing
New York into the exact forces Of foreign and do
nestle trade" and gradually swallowing up the
IN of Boston and Philadelphia, as well MS Of
the South. The writer, however, contends that
Norfolk ought, from It's position, to be = the port or
emporium Of the L.. States and tina, it should "a,
least be made the centre of exchange Tor New Or
leans and the South and this he at1irms can only be
done by a resort to a similar mode of transportation
concluding his most admirable essay in these
words: " Lc,the South bring her strong men to the
enterprise, and get up her line Of splendid steamers
to England and France, and let the i,st blow be
aimed to divide with New York the facilities of com
munication and then wilhdraw from her, if she
can, a part Of the travel, and make the port of Nor
folk the centre Of exchange for New Orleans
and the South. When she has done this. lie, her
throw herself behind her cotton bags. and then with
her ships make the gallant stand. And il, after all
this. the proud spirit mus, succumb-ift the South
mnst sink into her, SO called, vassalage to The North.
and be ruined by her tribute to New York. her sons
may say Of her, rs Writ said of the General Arm
strong privateer, she has graced he, fall, and made
her ruin glorious" There are several interesting
topics collaterally discussed in this paper, which
cannot fail 10 be read with a,idity by every scholar
as well as by every patriot. The Editor Of The Mes.
senger prefaccs IT with the remark I'VE cannot
offend the modesiy Of the author by disclosing his
name; but we may venture to say of him, that his
sentiments grace the navy of his country. with whose
honor his own name is intimately associated"
"CurreDte Calainosites,'' is one OF Mr.. ]. +.
Otis's pretty and agreeable string Of political p, arls,
" at random strung" but selected with discrimina-
ton and judgment.
"Dorcas Lindsey, or the Bachelors Death. Bed"
and . Alice Richmond" are both beautifully written
stories, Astounding in thrilling incident, and free
from mawkish senlimentalism. The latter, parlicn-
larry, possesses extraordinary merit.
Mr.. Tyler's excellent Address, delivered before
the two Literary Societies Of Randolph Macon Col
lcge, also gfoces the January No. of the Messenger
and a variety Of other wcli-writicn articles, which
we have not space to cnpmerate, much less to praise
as they deserve.
ii we have any objection to this No. it is that it con-
,ains too much poetry, though we do not know that
that is a reasonable objection since we are assured by
one better qualified to pronounce judgment upon it
than we pretend to be, that il sofa much higher
grade Of excellence than usual.