The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-04-01
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER

The April number of the Messehge. w
think one of the best we have seen TOT 'o"e
time. The leading article is q re''e" VI o'e
which appeared in Blackwood IN 'anua,'
and which was fuller than usuai u '"' 80
which Englishmen never fail 10 Pe'pe""'e
when thew write about slavery III TINS coua's'
Th. wr;,ey administers the scourge with a
Lii ,A ss.y,ess hand. The only objection
sid ~ b;s article is that which we alleged
.;ns, . review by Professor Holmes, in the
Messenger. of "Uncle's Toms Cabin" 1t is
=, inter waste of learning and critical acumen
10 spend them in answering British SANDERS.
The writers of these ISLANDERS will no, be con-
vincea-,hey do not wish to be convinced
Their object always is to write book that
will sell, and they know that nothing will sell
so rapidly, in England, as abuse of us and
everything with which We have the slightest
connection. Convinced Of their motives, we
never pay the slightest attention TO anything
they say; for we feel that they write but for
bread, and manufacture their wares for the
market. Apart from this, the essay is q very
COED one, and will be read with pleasure by
ell who take an interest in the subject.
The second article is defence of Lucretia
Borgia, or rather it may be called, the asser-
ton of certain "Historic Doubts" with regard
10 the exten, Of her criminality. Pope Alex
ander the Sixth, and his son Caesar Borgia,
Duke Valentine as Machiavelli always calls
him. rendered the name of Borgia SO detesta-
BILE that anything asserted Of any of the family
was readily believed in that age, and succeed
ing generations took everything upon trust
The researches of Roscoe, who wrote his
italian histories with great care, could supply
him with nc direct and authentic proof against
Lucreta, either with regard TO her completely
in the assassination of her elder brother, the
Duke of Gambia, of the guilt of her other
brother Caesar Borgia) in that particular, or
of her having been the object of criminal at.
1achment TO either of them. In the ages which
are generally called dark, and ia those which
Immediately follow them, it will frequently be
ound, that in the midst of civil connections,
some one character stands out so pre.emnenily
bad, that he is compelled to father all the
crimes of the party to which he was attached.
This was, in an especial manner, the fate OF
Richard Ill, and it may have been likewise,
the fate Of Caesar Borgia and his sister,
Through the death of Pope Alexander the
Sixth, the fortunes Of his family were over.
thrown, Caesar was expelled from Italy, and,
we believe, died in exile. The history Of the
family fell into the hands of its enemies, as did
the history of Richard, and as these had an in
terest in defaming them, they unfortunately
found enough Of what was inconestably true,
to give color to anything their malignity might
invent. Still, we should receive with great
caution, any statement which goes so COM
pletely to overturn all pre.conceived ideas, as
that of Roscoe. The writer has made an in.
teresting article of this subject.
The writer of the "Sketches of the Flush
Times in Alabama" is out again in this num-
Der with very amusing picture of q real Ken.
Iuckian. Ii is little exaggerated, it is true,
but the best likenesses, it is said, are to be
found in caricatures.
Mr. Thompson still continues to supply the
editorial table with all the delcacies of the
season.