OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

From the Express, Amherst, Mass. Southern Literary Messenger.-The May number has been received. From the many flatterFrom the Washington Globe. ing notices we have seen, accompanied many The Southern Literary Messenger. JOHN R. THOMP-times by extracts, we were led to consider this SON, Editor and Proprietor, Richmond, Va.

one of the standard periodicals of the day, and "The May number of the Southern Literary a perusal of the specimen before us has abunMessenger has been issued. It contains two ex-dantly confirmed the opinion. Its articles bear cellent articles from correspondents at Paris- the stamp of profound thought and critical acuReadings from Lord Bacon-Landscape Paint-men, which, we are sorry to say, is so much ers, by Lanman-A notice of the lamented Cal-needed to elevate the general character of perihoun-Origin and History of the Court of Chan-odical literature. Its contributors, many of them, cery-Letter from New York-Original Poetry-standing in the first literary rank in the country, Notices of New Works, &c. The Messenger, bring to its well filled pages instruction and enunder Mr. Thompson's control, is a periodical tertainment that chain the attention and improve which can be praised without doing violence to one's sense of critical justice. We hope to see it thrive."

the intellect, Published monthly, at $5 per annum, in advance, by Macfarlane & Ferguson, Richmond, Va., and edited by Jno. R. Thompson. It is beautifully printed and every way commends itself to the favorable notice of the

We take the foregoing from the Alexandria
Gazette, and will add, that we hope also that the
Messenger will thrive. The number for this public.

From the Norfolk Beacon.

Southern Literary Messenger.-The Messen

month has some excellent original articles. The letters from Paris are very interesting-one, accompanied by a poetical translation of the celebrated Marseilles Hymn, which it is extremely difficult to render into English so as to be suffiger for May, like the merry month itself, comes to us freighted with leaflet, blossom, bud and ciently literal, and to preserve, at the same time, flower, and redolent of perfume. We might the spirit and vigor of the original. This trans- elaborate the comparison and add that, as in lation comes as near doing this, perhaps nearer, wandering through the country, at this season. than any other that has been attempted. we now and then find an evidence of the past winter, in the stalwart proportions of some tough son of the forest, not yet warmed into apparent life by the refreshing shower, and gentle sunshine, so in reading the number of the Messenger before us, we occasionally find the varied productions of a warm fancy in which it abounds, contrasted with those of the colder but more substantial intellect. To prove the truth of our comparison, we have only to lay before our readers the table of contents of the number.

In this number of the Messenger there is a dissertation on the Origin and History of the High Court of Chancery, which is highly creditable to the learning and research of the writer. He ought to write more.

From the Saybrook Mirror, Essex, Conn. The Southern Literary, for May, is decidedly a fine number. The table of contents is rich and varied, and well sustains the proud character of this Magazine. It is our unqualified belief that the Southern Literary Messenger is the best Monthly published in the country, and we should be gratified to see it liberally patronized in this vicinity.

From the Nueces Valley, Corpus Christi, Texas. The Southern Literary Messenger.-It is seldom we meet with a periodical, among the numerous and varied publications of the day, that contains a greater variety of highly interesting original reading matter than is to be found in the Messenger. Although years have elapsed since we have had the pleasure of perusing its pages, still we do not discover any material change in the style or in the character of the selections. The Messenger continues to retain its former reputation as a Literary journal. We have hurriedly read over the first four numbers of the 16th volume, and we do not know when we have met with such a rich literary treat. The subjects are generally of an interesting and exciting charac- From the Virginia Patriot, Lynchburg. ter; while instructive, they are also entertaining. Southern Literary Messenger.-We have reThe reader is led along through rich and beau-ceived a copy of the Messenger for the month of tiful scenes of literary lore, diversified with dark May, and give below, its table of contents. We or lighter shades of the sentimental, now and take this occasion to bear our humble testimony then tinged with the gayest coloring of romance. have uniformly been displayed in the conduct of to the ability, industry, and good taste which The Bachelor's Reverie should induce many sub-the Messenger under the auspices of its present scribers from that enviable class. Editor and Proprietor.

Subscriptions received at this office. J. R. Thompson, Editor and Publisher, Richmond, Va. $5 00 per annum.

PROSPECTUS

OF THE

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER, FOR 1850.

SIXTEENTH VOLUME.

A new volume of this long-established and favorite monthly was commenced on the 1st of January last. In issuing its Prospectus, the Editor does not deem it necessary to publish any long list of contributors or to indulge in any fulsome laudations of the Magazine. Its character is well-known throughout the country. For nearly sixteen years it has occupied the first rank of excellence in periodical literature. The Editor is determined to maintain its standing, by filling it with articles from the best pens in the country. The contents will embrace

Reviews, Historical and Biographical Sketches, Novels, Tales, Travels, Essays, Poems, Critiques, and Papers on the Army, Navy and other National Subjects.

The Messenger will also continue to present articles of a SCIENTIFIC character, such as during the past year, have excited the most marked attention on both sides of the Atlantic. In the forthcoming volume, the Original Novel, of

THE SELDENS OF SHERWOOD, WILL BE CONTINUED.

The Editor has pleasure in announcing that his accomplished European Correspondent will continue to furnish the Magazine with

MONTHLY LETTERS FROM PARIS,

comprising all the items of foreign intelligence, and critical remarks on all novelties in Science, Literature and Art. The reader will find this correspondence a faithful reflection of Life in the French Capital. The political sagacity of the writer has been commended in the highest terms by the National Intelligencer.

Of the Editorial and Critical Department of the Messenger, the Editor will only say that it will embrace copious notes on current literature, and reviews of all new American or Foreign works of general interest and value. His opinions will at least be always fearlessly and honestly avowed.

CONDITIONS OF THE SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.

1. THE LITERARY MESSENGER is published in monthly numbers. Each number contains not less than 64 large super-royal pages, printed on good type, and in the best manner, and on paper of the most beautiful quality. 2. The MESSENGER is mailed regularly on or about the first day of every month in the year. Twelve numbers make a volume, and the price of subscription is $5 per volume, payable in adrance;-nor will the work be sent to any one, unless the order for it is accompanied with the CASH. THE YEAR COMMENCES WITH THE JANUARY NUMBER. NO SUBSCRIPTION RECEIVED FOR LESS THAN THE YEAR, UNLESS THE INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIBING CHOOSES TO PAY THE FULL PRICE OF A YEAR'S SUBSCRIPTION, FOR A LESS PERIOD.

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RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, April, 1850.

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JNO. R. THOMPSON, Editor and Proprietor.

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PUBLISHED MONTHLY At five dollars per ANNUM-JNO. R. THOMPSON, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

VOL. XVI.

RICHMOND, JULY, 1850.

NO. 7.

the intellectual annals of the world, something

Morell's Philosophy of the Nineteenth Cen-nobler and more worthy of lasting veneration

tury.*

than the off-shoots of the last such as they now appear. If we can read aright the signs of the times, and discern accurately of the night, the wretched, though highly elaborate systems which Mr. Morell's work has been too long before the public to require at our hands any very close tined to be swept away even in our own age by now unprofitably prey upon each other, are desor extended examination. It has been too highly a wider, more generous, more elevating, and lauded by the foreign press to need the aid of our more rational Philosophy, than the olla podricommendation, or to be affected by our censure; da, (which is not Philosophy,) of the Eclectic and, though we cannot acquiesce in the unmea- School-or the systems which dazzle and delude sured eulogy which has been lavished on it, yet, the minds of men, under the catchwords of reaas the Essay is entitled to much praise, and sup-son, or a higher sense-of sense, or of common plies respectably a grave desideratum in our lit- sense. The serpents produced by the art of the erature of Philosophy, we shall only venture, at Egyptian Magicians, wondrous as their art may this late day, upon a brief expression of our es- be, will be devoured by the brazen serpent which timate of its merits. So much we think due to springs from a loftier inspiration. The rod of the celebrity of the author, to the wide-spread- Aaron has not yet been revealed: let us not in ing influences of the work, and to the dangers to our hurry and impatience acknowledge fealty be apprehended from the pernicious heresies to and allegiance to its meaner precursors: but,

which it tends.

until it is made manifest, or the close of the CenThere is a lamentable, but almost universal tury without its appearance demonstrates the fuinclination, to speak of the Philosophy of the tility of our hopes, we will not admit any pecuNineteenth Century as something novel and pe- liar systems as specially constituting the Philosoculiarly excellent; and Mr. Morell is by no means phy of the Nineteenth Century; least of all will guiltless of this vulgar adulation and self-idolawe render homage to those monkey-deities which try. We may be permitted to remark, en pas-idolatrous hauds have set up in Dan, and sancsant, that this designation is a misnomer as re-tified with this appellation.

gards the subject of Mr. Morell's book; and a These passing observations upon the spirit, still more grievous misnomer as regards the Phi- and in some measure, upon the title of the preslosophy to which it is applied. The greater part ent work are not irrelevant; for a sign may beof the present volume is occupied with the Phi- tray, where it does not reveal, the nature of the losophy and Philosophers of the Seventeenth and thing signified; and, in the present instance, after Eighteenth centuries, and the fragment devoted reading the title-page, we need not be surprised to the Nineteenth treats merely of systems which at discovering that Mr. Morell's views are conbear the characteristic impress of those of the fined within the limits of the sensible horizon; preceding age. This, however, is of compara- as if the sun, in his unwearying course, illumined tively slight importance, but it is not so with the only the little circle within the range of our own second error. We cannot conceive of any Phi- feeble vision and direct experience. It is true losophy, or system of Philosophies, as peculiarly giving character to any particular century, until the century itself be closed, and all its fruits are before us. It is equally ignorant and arrogant to anticipate the possible productions of time, and to decide the point while half the hundred years have barely expired: and we do trust that the present Centenniad may not pass away without leaving behind it, to record its influence in

An Historical and Critical View of the Speculative Philosophy of Europe in the Nineteenth Century. By J. D. Morell, A. M. New York. Robert Carter. 1848.

VOL. XVI-49

that he has spoken and written about the Tendencies of the Age; but whenever his thoughts are projected into the future, he mistakes the clouds which hang over the distant verge of the horizon, but fall within its circumference, for the shadows which coming events cast before them.

But, if the veil of the future is impenetrable to his eyes, and does not even awaken any dreams of what may be, which are not magnified phantasms of what now is, like the Giants of the Brocken, this inability to judge truly of the future results, in a great measure, from the fact, that the by no means impervious vista of the