Page:The Southern Literary Messenger - Minor.djvu/96

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84
The Southern

being too narrow in regard to the acquisition of languages in his school ship for the Navy.

This volume is quite full of the Navy. There are three sets of "Extracts from the Journal of an American Naval Officer;" four letters from Union Jack to Henry Clay and a sketch of Judge Abel P. Upshur, whom President Tyler had made the Secretary of the Navy. What an earnest appeal does this sketch embrace for the Judge to exert his position and influence in promoting reforms in the Navy!

There is a discussion as to the moral tendency of the "History of an Adventurer" and its Sequel, by a critic whom Mr. White consulted, and the author. The critic is very strait-laced, but not offensive, and the controversy is agreeably courteous.

The eleven chapters of "The Quakeress" are finished; but other tales are going on, though there are several short ones. There are some lengthy and even pretentious poems. Judge Meek writes one, "The Nuptial Fête, an Irregular Poem." Geo. B. Wallis continues one: "Arabella, a Story of the Texan Revolution." Notice is taken of "Pocahontas," a poetical legend, by a lady of Richmond, Mrs. John G. Mosby, published in book form. There are two poems from the pen of Ex-President John Q. Adams, and oh! how many others. Our good and distinguished Ex-Secre-