is very respectable. It has indulged, more or less, in political speculation, nor could it have done otherwise, considering the character of the spot from which it emanated, and the influences by which its writers are, from their infancy, surrounded. Virginians are a race of politicians, born so, educated such, feeling, each man for himself, that he has a deep interest in his country, and in his country's laws and institutions; nor is it probable that any work, professedly literary, would thrive in that region, unless politics, the analysis of government and laws, and of state affairs, at home and abroad, were to have a considerable place in it. A fondness for political discussion is peculiar to our citizens. It is characteristic of the entire South. The habit is as important, at least we conceive it to be so, to our moral comfort, our ease, our independence, our respectable position in society, as the air we breathe is, to our bodily health and vigor. Our children are politicians, and the blush of shame would mantle on their cheeks, when they attained to manhood, if they were discovered to be grossly ignorant of, or even unfamiliar with, the principles of our admirably constructed and well balanced government, or with the grounds upon which our peculiar institutions, social and civil, rest for support. Our intelligent females even, are astute in these matters, usually acquainted with the exciting political topics of the day, and with the lines of demarcation that divide our dominant parties; and although not seen at the election polls, nor taking part in the debates of our popular assemblies, yet their influence, as members of the commonwealth, is not unfelt throughout the whole body politic. There is no people, we believe, on the face of the earth, who have a clearer understanding of the rights of the human race, or who more faithfully observe them, in all the relations and conditions of life, than the citizens of the South, English gossip and Northern frenzy to the contrary notwithstanding.

Mr. White, the editor and proprietor of "the Southern Literary Messenger," has been indefatigable in his exertions to render it a valuable, agreeable and popular work, and has generally presided over its interests with judgment and taste. Edgar A. Poe, Esq., a gentleman of brilliant but eccentric powers, and the author of some works of fiction, composed in a very original vein of thought, was for a short

time its editor, and it throve under his auspices. Judge Upshur, Judge Tucker, Professor Dew and Governor Cass, have been occasional contributors to its pages. Mrs. Ellet, one of the best Italian scholars of our country, has sometimes written for it, and Mrs. Sigourney has furnished for it poetical articles. Mr. Simms, the author of "the Yemassee," has contributed both to the prose and poetical departments of the work. He was the author of the very vigorous article on the subject of our domestic institutions, which appeared, a year or two since, in its pages. Besides the preparation of his novels, Mr. Simms has found time to contribute, more or less, to all our monthly, and, occasionally, to our quarterly periodicals. Notwithstanding some faults of style and judgment, of which he is conscious, and which he is always ready to correct when pointed out to him, few writers deserve greater praise for their industry; few surpass him, when he properly tasks his powers, in vigorous conception, and a bold and manly expression of his thoughts, and none in the amenity of disposition with which he listens to the criticism of the press, however severe, nor in the readiness with which he adapts his views to meet it, provided he is satisfied that it is just, and that its authors are actuated by friendly feelings. For the last ten years, since he has been upon the literary arena, he has written and published, in the shape of essays, criticisms and various works of fiction, productions which, if collected together, would make at least thirty volumes, of the dimensions of our ordinary-sized novels;-all of which have been more or less read, and are more or less deserving of the approval of his countrymen. "The Southern Literary Messenger" has a handsome circulation of, we believe, about four thousand copies, and its popularity and influence, which it has so well sustained for a series of years, is, at the present moment, unabated.

"The New England Magazine," published at Boston, and edited by the Messrs. Buckingham, father and son, and subsequently by Mr. Park Benjamin, was a work creditable to "the literary emporium of the New Continent," and it is strange, that in that enlightened community, and city of scholars, possessed of every variety of talent and attainment calculated to impart grace, value and interest to such a work, and distinguished, also, for the generous character of its citizens,

it should have been suffered to fail, for want of readers, and deficiency of patronage. We are not aware of the length of time during which it was published in Boston, but it was merged, some years ago, in "the American Monthly Magazine," conducted by Messrs. Park and Hoffman, itself a work of high merit, and which, had it not been for an occasional sprinkling of abolitionism, which excited the distrust of its Southern readers, would have been regarded as adding to the character and claims of American literature, and as deserving of the warm countenance of all its friends. This periodical, notwithstanding the efforts of Mr. Dearborne, its enterprising publisher, to render it attractive by tasteful and costly embellishments, and to establish it on a firm foundation, was some years since, discontinued.

The publication of "the United States Magazine and Democratic Review," was commenced at Washington, the seat of Government of the United States, in the year 1837. It is a literary magazine, published monthly, containing as large an amount of matter as the English mothlies, is got up in a superior style, and is intended to serve as an organ for the opinions of the democratic party, as its title indicates. Each number "is accompanied by a finely engraved portrait of a distinguished political or literary character." This work has an extensive circulation, a larger circulation, we believe, than has been attained by any American or English periodical of its class, with the exception, perhaps, of "Hunt's Magazine," an amount of patronage which it well deserves, if fine and powerful writing, and just views of the structure of our government, may entitle it to the favor of the American people. During the last year, its publication was transferred from the capital of the Union to the great emporium of 'the empire State,' where its literary auspices have improved; and it is, at present, in a most flourishing condition, and has a strong and constantly increasing patronage. Its writers are among the first scholars of the country, and its editor, Mr. Sullivan, is a gentleman of great intelligence, tact and ability.

A work of high interest and value to the commercial community, and indeed, to all classes of society, and to which we just now incidentally alluded, is "Hunt's Merchant's Magazine and Commercial Review." It was established in New York, about three years ago, by its present enter

prising publisher, Freeman Hunt, Esq., whose just appreciation of the importance of such a journal, in a country sustaining commercial relations with the whole civilized world, and yet without a proper organ for the discussion of the various absorbing and often perplexing questions which arise, in relation to our foreign and domestic trade, the principles which do and which should regulate it, the resources of different nations, and the advantages of various kinds which we either enjoy, or from which we are èxcluded by national treaties, and other equally important topics, is fully proyed by the ample success of his work, conducted, as it is, with great ability, and displaying a thorough and intimate acquaintance with the subjects of which it treats. It is, doubtless, one of the best periodicals in the Union, supplies a desideratum that has been long felt, and occupies a most important and truly useful position. "Its contents embrace every subject connected with commerce and political economy, biographical sketches of eminent merchants, and essays, from the ablest pens, on banking, navagation, manufactures, insurance, trade, commerce and mercantile law, including important decisions in the different courts of the United States and England; together with official reports of all new commercial regulations and treaties." It furnishes, also, a brief and judicious commentary upon the principal works issued from the presses of our American publishers. It is very correctly printed, but the general appearance of the work is not so good as that of many other of our leading periodicals. Its circulation is general, among our mercantile classes, throughout the Union, and its patronage, we learn, with much gratification, is steadily increasing.

"Graham's Magazine" is a Monthly, published in Philadelphia, Pa. We have seen only one or two specimens of the work, but have formed a very favorable impression of it. It is contributed to by our most popular writers in the lighter departments of literature, and it is a beautiful specimen of the Art of Printing. Its embellishments are costly, confined chiefly to fashions and costume, and fit it well for a lady's boudoir, which it is, doubtless, intended to adorn. It is made up chiefly of tales, criticisms, literary notices and graceful and spirited essays.

"The Lady's Book," under the editorial control of those

accomplished female writers, Mrs. Sigourney and Mrs. Hale, is a work of older date, but similar character to the last named periodical. Its circulation is very large, and amounted, a few years since, to thirty thousand copies. It is intended chiefly for female readers, but is a very agreeable family periodical, and although it does not often soar to the highest grade of literary excellence, is yet, for the most part, unexceptionable both in style and matter.

"The Magnolia," a Southern periodical, is published in Savannah, Ga. It has a very good circulation, and several excellent contributors, among whom are Dr. Stevens, a writer of great promise and of much historical lore, Mr. Simms, the novelist, Dr. Caruthers, author of "the Knights of the Golden Horse Shoe," and other works of fiction, and Miss Lee, a young lady of fine poetical genius, and a choice contributor to most of our popular periodicals. Her poetical effusions were first confined chiefly to "the Southern Rose," a Semi-monthly, published in Charleston, S. C.,an exquisite work of its kind, under the editorial charge of Mrs, Gilman, the well known and highly appreciated author of "the Recollections of a Southern Matron," "Ruth Raymond" and other works. The latter periodical, much to the regret of its friends, has been discontinued, but "the Magnolia," we are pleased to learn, is in a very flourishing condition.

The South has another periodical, established at Augusta, Ga., entitled "the Augusta Mirror." Among its contributors, are Judge Longstreet, the acute and humorous author of "the Georgia Scenes," and other practised writers. This work has a good reputation. We are not apprized of the extent of its circulation, nor are we sufficiently acquainted with its character, to enable us to make it the subject of particular comment. We are in the same state of ignorance in respect to the standing of a periodical, not long since commenced at Macon, Ga. From our knowledge, however, of the refinement and good taste of the citizens of that place, we are satisfied, that the community is one in which literature must be highly respected, and any efforts to extend its claims and influence, must meet with a warm, generous and steady support.

The West has, also, contributed a Monthly to the list of our lighter periodicals, "the Western Monthly Magazine,"