Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-26
Southern Literature.

The Now York journal OF Commerce
says:
That our literature is not sectional. and
the South has actually furnished larger
share 81 interesting and important books
than the North We know that this may
seem strange 10 the croakers who are ever
harping upon the literary barrenness Ut the
South, but it is nevertheless true that some
not only of the most able. but of the most
remunerative books published in the United
States have been and are by Southern
authors. During the past year there has
been no biography on either side OF the wa.
ter which surpasses in ability, dignity, and
in classic style, the interesting Life and
Times of James Madison, by Hon. VIM. c.
Rives, Of Virginia. Neither in England
nor in France from number of volumes on
field sports in Europe, India and Africa,
do We find a more racy. graphic and inter-
esting book than the Carolina Sports, by
Hon. VIM. Elliott, Of South Carolina.
in the domain of fiction we are inform
ed that of Grace Trueman, or Love and
Principle written by Mrs. Ford, Of Ken
lucky, more than $4,000 copies have been
sold in a few months; and that the Hidden
Path and Moss Side,' by Marion Harland,
Of Richmond Va, have had an aggregate
sale of 5000 copies; 'Beulah,' by Augusta
j. Fans, of Mobile. has passed through tif-
teen editions in three months, and the de-
mand is bv no means exhausted. Mus.
tang Grey written BY the Hon. Jere Glenn
ems, of Alabama, has also had an immense
sale. Then there is that veteran III the lite
rary world. VIM. Gilmore Simms, who has
not only written some of our most popular
works of fiction, bu, has lately enriched his
native State with his valuable History of
South Carolina.
"In works of Theology, Intellectual Phi
losophy. &c, &C., the South is not behind.
DR.. Fuiier's Sermons are the characteristic
and eloquent Christian productions of the
former pastor ot Beauiort, South Carolina,
who discussed with DR.. Waylund the ques-
ton Of slavery DR.. Fuller's sphere Of USE
fulness has been greatly enlarged by his re-
moya t. Baltimore, and these sermons are
the fruits Of his labors there. Prof. lIoge,
now OF this city, but formerly OF Richmond,
has furnished Blind Barsmeus;' the Chris
tan Paraioxes, is by hr Crawford, Of Mer-
Ger University, Georgia Moral Science by
DR.. Dagg, former President of Mercer Uni
Nerslly: PICTURES from au Ancient ArtlSt
by Prof. IL. II. Tucker, Of Georgia, and
many kindred volumes.
In hooks for children. the Oakland
Stories, by Geo. b. Taylor, of Richmond,
Va. is not only having u most extensive sale
in tho Southern and Middle States, but from
the extreme North, the orders show what is
the appreciation of the book there We were
indeed struck with the criticism Of the most
widely circulated Boston paper, which,
though devoted 10 Repuhlioanism, had the
trankness 10 assert that the Oakland Stories
were far superior u similar series of pop
ular Northern writer.
I'VE might multiply examples. bat we will
state that on inquiry at only two Of the New
York publishers. We find that within few
months they have issued, the one, fifteen diff
terent publications. and the other seventeen,
all written By Southern authors. represent
ing Louisiana, Alabama South Carolina,
Virginia and Kentucky.
"All our leading publishers have goodly
list. showing tlat the constant assertion in
certain quarters that the South has NJ liter
AZURE is not only uutoundea, hut that the
South actoally furnishes " large proportion
of reading fui the North.