[A correspondent from whom we have received many favors, indulges in
the following sportive strain. So far from being willing that he should
"_sail before the mast_," we would rather see him take rank as OUR POST
CAPTAIN.]
"I sincerely rejoice in the success thus far of your undertaking, and
trust you have now been sustained long enough to give time to abler men
to come to your assistance. I wish you a good crew and a pleasant
voyage for your little frigate. I shall still occasionally sail with
you before the mast as a common sailor, until somebody gives me the
cat-o'-nine-tails, and then perhaps I shall stay at home and mind my
business, which is _clodhopping_, and which is perhaps more suitable
than the occupation I have lately been following."
"To read your paper is the _only one thing needful_ to enlarge its
circulation, to attract the attention, and to gain the affections of
the reading part of the community. It is a work peculiarly interesting
to southern literature, as its appeals are direct to the love of
letters, to the generous pride, and to the chivalric patriotism of
southerners. The monotonous sound of politics cannot but be
disgusting."
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO CONTRIBUTORS, CORRESPONDENTS, &c.
We tender our thanks to the editor of the _Farmer's Register_ for
setting us right in respect to Mr. Peter A. Browne's letter on the
mineral resources of Virginia. The republication of that letter in the
Register had escaped our recollection entirely. We shall be much
gratified in having the able co-operation of Mr. Ruffin upon a subject
we have much at heart, to wit: a geological and mineralogical survey of
the state. When the legislature shall have settled the exact limits of
federal power, and the precise boundaries of state rights--if indeed
these things can be done in our time--or when we shall have laid the
broad and permanent foundation of a system of internal improvement,--we
hope then at least to see Virginia treading in the paths of other
states, and turning her attention to her own vast, and in some
respects, hidden resources.
We owe a similar acknowledgement to Mr. Fairfield, editor of the North
American Magazine, who informs us that Mr. Browne's letter also
appeared in one of his numbers, but which in like manner escaped our
notice.
The "_Remarks Delivered to the Law Class at William and Mary_," upon a
subject deeply interesting to the south, shall appear in our next
number.
The "_Letters from a Sister_," we have only had opportunity to glance
at. We have no doubt that they will furnish a rich store for the
entertainment of our readers.
The _Selections from the Manuscripts of Mrs. Wood_, are reluctantly but
unavoidably excluded from the present number, but shall certainly
appear in our next.
We have on hand a variety of poetical contributions, from which we
shall cull liberally for our pages. As some literary appetites however,
are cloyed by too many dainties, we must be somewhat particular in the
arrangement of our table.
The _Publisher_ offers an apology to his patrons for the delay in the
publication of the present number. The close of the year being, by
common consent, a season of holiday recreation rather than of business,
all just allowances will be made. He promises (always excepting
unforeseen accidents and contingencies) to be more punctual hereafter.
It is his desire to issue the Messenger, if possible, regularly between
the 20th and last day of each month. Contributors ought to be governed
accordingly. He tenders the compliments of the season to his patrons.