The editor plaintively says: "From our Northern and Eastern friends we have received more complimentary notices than from any of our Southern brethren without the limits of our own State. We say this not in a reproachful spirit to our kindred, but in a somewhat sad conviction of mind, that we who live on the sunny side of Mason and Dixon's line are not yet sufficiently inspired with a sense of the importance of maintaining our just rights, or rather our proper representation in the Republic of Letters."
As a part of this number was not printed until February, it contains, as also does No. 6, a notice of the anniversary meetings of "The Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society;" at which Prof. George Tucker, of the University of Virginia, delivered a "learned, elaborate and elegant address," and Wm. Maxwell, Esq., of Norfolk, played off upon them the unintentional joke of presenting to them "the identical pistol with which Capt. John Smith killed the Turk Grualgo, at the siege of Regal; and, in his peculiarly happy manner, dilated upon the singular good fortune and heroic qualities of that extraordinary man." The evidence of the pistol's identity was afterwards given. It is highly probable that Prof. Chas. Deane and Dr. Alex. H. Brown were not present on that veritable occasion. The Messenger now became the organ of that Society, of
