The gentleman, referred to in the ninth number of the Messenger, as
filling its editorial chair, retired thence with the eleventh number;
and the intellectual department of the paper is now under the conduct
of the Proprietor, assisted by a gentleman of distinguished literary
talents. Thus seconded, he is sanguine in the hope of rendering the
second volume which the present number commences, _at least_ as
deserving of support as the former was: nay, if he reads aright the
tokens which are given him of the future, it teems with even richer
banquets for his readers, than they have hitherto enjoyed at his
board.
Some of the contributors, whose effusions have received the largest
share of praise from critics, and (what is better still) have been
read with most pleasure by that larger, unsophisticated class, whom
Sterne loved for reading, and being pleased "they knew not why, and
care not wherefore"--may be expected to continue their favors. Among
these, we hope to be pardoned for singling out the name of Mr. EDGAR
A. POE; not with design to make any invidious distinction, but because
such a mention of him finds numberless precedents in the journals on
every side, which have rung the praises of his uniquely original vein
of imagination, and of humorous, delicate satire. We wish that decorum
did not forbid our specifying other names also, which would afford
ample guarantee for the fulfilment of larger promises than ours: but
it may not be; and of our other contributors, all we can say is--"by
their fruits ye shall know them."
It is a part of our present plan, to insert _all original
communications_ as editorial; that is, simply to omit the words "For
the Southern Literary Messenger" at the head of such articles:--unless
the contributor shall especially desire to have that caption prefixed,
or there be something which requires it in the nature of the article
itself. _Selected articles_, of course, will bear some appropriate
token of their origin.
With this brief salutation to patrons and readers, we gird up
ourselves for entering upon the work of another year, with zeal and
energy increased, by the recollection of kindness, and by the hopes of
still greater success.