The Kind Notices of the Press have several times elicited our thanks, but we have not thought proper to publish in our Papers any of the commendations of our editorial brethren. We will, however, venture to give our readers the following from the pen of our gallant friend, Captain J. Hampden Chamberlayne, the editor of the Richmond State:
We have several times had occasion to commend the work of this Society and the usefulness of its publications. The issue of the Papers for the month just passed is one of unusual variety, and is, as all its predecessors, of a positive value to the historian and to all interested in reaching the truth of our recent war between the States.
Particularly welcome are the reports of General Maury of the operations of his department—headquarters at Mobile—and of General R. L. Page touching the defence of Fort Morgan. These papers are published for the first time, and fill an important gap in the story of the military life of the Confederacy. Captain Park's diary continues its minute and lifelike descriptions, and Mr. McCarthy's "Soldier Life" is, as all his sketches, faithful and sparkling. The papers on the Fort Gregg defence help to throw light on affairs hitherto known but vaguely, and the memorial address on General Lee, confining itself for the most part to mere outline, yet attempts to set forth clearly the salient points of character and achievement exhibited by our great commander.
This issue is, we repeat, of positive value as well as not a little of attractiveness in the various styles of its different essays and reports.
The Society, indeed, has in a very short time taken honorable rank in its class, and by the persistent labors, energy, accuracy and knowledge of the Secretary it has not only acquired for its publications a large and self-sustaining circulation, but accumulated a great mass of historical material of high value to the country and to the truth of history. Establishing close relations with other societies having analogous ends in view, a system of exchange has been adopted which is already of great use, and promises constantly increasing results. Contented with small beginnings and hard work, the Secretary and the Society have wisely avoided all attempts at show, and make good use of the poor quarters, which is all that has yet been bestowed by way of encouragement to its work. It is much to be hoped that no long time will go by before the valuable material accumulated by its labor will find better means and place of preservation, and the officers be more worthily furnished with facilities for their duties. The publications, however, by which the Society is chiefly known, though they form as yet but a small part of what it has done, are worthy of unstinted praise. Giving a due attention to a variety of subjects, and letting slip no opportunity of sifting out of conflicting statements the very truth, they already serve, when bound, to furnish a veritable mine of facts, records, anecdotes, and memorabilia in general which bear upon the history of the Confederacy, both as a civil organization and as an armed camp. Fortunate, too, in the printer selected, these Southern Historical Society Papers are admirably prepared (at the printing house of George W. Gary), and lack nothing of neatness and even elegance in material and typography.
Guided by patriotic enthusiasm, and conducted, down to the details of its work, with minute and painstaking care, it is not strange that the Society and its monthly Papers grow fast as well as deservedly in the appreciation of the public.
