Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-05-09
From he Mder.
JoHN r. THOMPSON. ESQ.

We have seen with regret the announcement that Jno
R. Thompson, Esq, the esteemed editor of the Southern
Literary Messenger has accepted tie editorial control Of
the Southern Field and Rresde published at Augusta
& oreia and will become resdentof the latter place
NJ. Thompsons many delightful sodal traits will render
hi, departure from Richmond whee lie has long resi-
ded subject OF general regret anl the Messenger will
f1 it difficult supply his place. As the editor of this
periodical Mr. Thompson he securd for himself a very
extended reputation and highly gratifying position
among the leading journalists OF TIE country. He be-
came edorally connected with tie Messenger in ls47
W. believe and under his supervision the magazine has
become one of the most hghoned md in the best sense
of the term respectable period!cal in the land To
graceful and fcie STYLE which not nrequently rises in
eloquent reasoning or poetical ferOr Mr. Thompson
has united ardent and jealous soetude for the rights
of the South and the Southern interests generally and
upon all the great topics of the daI legtmately falling
under his notice. he has spoken plnly aud strongly
thus faithfully fulfilling the duties Of his post in the van
guard ofthe column. Too much praise cannot be award
&c him for the uuaterrg zeal he has exhibited in this
department. and in other points opew he has perform
ed the labors of his position with excellent dscrmina-
ton
The " Messenger" has been the medium of utterance
for the best minds OF the sOuth-lnd survey of the
volumes of the periodical since il las been under his d.
recon will he found full of interest and instruction.
He has himself contributed to its pages extremely
graceful verses and most pleasant essays. These are
characterized like all Mr. Thompsons productions by
polished taste great cultur, in all the departments of
bellies ettres and a nice and apprecative ear for the
music OF STYLE and the 'balnce Of periods"-whch latter
quality we esteem somewhat unusual merit in our au.
tlors Mr. Thompson has iOt however confined his la
bors TO the Messenger" lie has published many fine
poems in the "Knickerbocke." The Literary World"
ald Harpers Magazine" As public lecturer he is
deServedly popular and wildly esteemed In 1854, he
spent some months in Europe and his return chron
iced his impressions OF traveln volume styled Across
the Atlantic BY Of hose fatalities which occa-
sionaly the best laid enterprises Of men, the
tire work Just the Of publication, destroyed
in New York, by fire. A single copy only was rescued
from the flames. But the authors views Of Europe have
not been lost In many pleasant articles published in
the Messenger he has descGbed the cities picture gal
leIes aud art wonders of the Did World with admirable
freshness and deicacy of coorng One of these articles
referring to the NIdoI,a d Sir, Sinfo is especially no
table for the delightful polish Of its STYLE aud the high
appreciation displays of theeements of early art We
trust that the writer's European experiences may yet be
given TO the world n a more enduring form.
Mr. Thompson chosen to deliver poem on the oc-
casion OF the Inauguration the equestrian statue of
Washington at Richmond the 22d Of February 1883
and his task performed 4 need scarcely assure
ouI readers in a mastery manner The Introductory
portion Of this poem is vigorous compact, brilliant and
flushed beyond anything ts which we have ever seen
from this genleman's pet Ihls obtained for him a re-
pute deseryedly high and wiGly extended The occa-
iu reading. His Window Paps at Brandon" and "tn-
written Music" and "Benedcie" aud "A Picture com
mencing
Acroa gha vTrfvef efrae