From the Norfolk Beacon.
The Southern Literary Messenger for February appears in all its freshness. The sketches of the history of the Barbary States contained in the present number include the period of the equipment and departure of the French fleet destined for the attack on Algiers. The account of the diplomatic movements of England and France on the subject of the proposed capture is novel and instructive. The tribute to the memory of Cushing we hail with pleasure. If it be not a faultless production, it is written in a right spirit. The review of Paul Ulric is written with great freedom and unusual severity. The reviewer wields a formidable weapon. The article on Judge Marshall groups within a small compass much valuable and interesting intelligence respecting the late Chief Justice. It is not executed, however in a workmanlike manner. The ungenerous allusion to Chapman Johnson was wholly gratuitous. There is also a seasoning of federal politics, not referring to long past times, that ought to have been spared us. But the article on Autography is a treat of no common order. We have seen nothing of the kind before in an American periodical. It must have cost Mr. White a great deal of labor and expense in its typographical execution. What has become of the excellent series of essays on the sexes, ascribed to the pen of a distinguished professor of Wm. & Mary?
From the Baltimore American.
The publication of the Southern Literary Messenger, for March, was delayed beyond the usual time, for the purpose of inserting in it an Address by Professor Dew, of Wm. and Mary College, prepared to be delivered before the Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society. The first copy sent to us having miscarried, we have been further disappointed in the receipt of this number, which has just now reached us. As yet we have read but one article in it, but that is one of such merit on so interesting a subject, that it were nearly sufficient alone to give value to the number, without the aid of Mr. Dew's Address, to which we shall hereafter refer, doubting not to find it of high excellence, as his reputation leads us to anticipate.
The article to which we allude is on 'Manual Labor Schools, and their importance as connected with literary institutions.' The introduction of manual labor as a regular department of the school exercises is, we believe, one of the greatest improvements of the age, in the most important branch of human endeavor—the culture of man. We make no apology for frequently recurring to this subject. As reasonable would it be to expect apologies from the municipal authorities for directing their efforts daily, and with unrelaxed watchfulness, to the keeping pure and healthy the atmosphere of a city. The culture or education of human beings is a subject of unsurpassed moment and of never ceasing interest. The principles upon which this culture is to be conducted, and the modes of applying them, involve the well being of communities and nations. We are glad therefore, to perceive, that in our new and promising race of literary monthlies, education receives a large share of attention.
The paper before us in the Messenger, prepared by the Rev. Mr. Stanton, is peculiarly interesting, because it embodies a quantity of experience of the results produced by manual labor—results, which though derived from comparatively few sources, the number of institutions where the system has been introduced being as yet small—are of the most emphatic and convincing character. They already suffice to prove that the connexion of manual labor establishments with literary institutions, is conducive not only in the highest degree to health, but to morals, and to intellectual proficiency. Moreover—and this is a point of incalculable importance—in some of these institutions, a majority of the students have by their labor diminished their expenses about one half; a portion of them have defrayed the whole of their expenses, and a few have more than defrayed them—enjoying at the same time better health, and making more rapid advances in knowledge than usual. The distinct testimony of the pupils as well as superintendents, is adduced to prove the beneficial effects upon body and mind, of three hours agricultural or mechanical labor every day. One of these effects is described in the following language. "This system is calculated to make men hardy, enterprising, and independent; and to wake up within them a spirit perseveringly to do, and endure, and dare."
From the New Yorker.
The Southern Literary Messenger.—The February No. of this periodical is before us—rich in typographical beauty as ever, but scarcely so fortunate as in some former instances in the character of its original contributions. Such at least is our judgment; and yet of some twenty articles the greater number will be perused with decided satisfaction. Of these, No. X. of the "Sketches of the History of Tripoli" and other Barbary States, affords an interesting account of the series of outrages on the part of the Algerine Regency which provoked the entire overthrow of that infamous banditti and the subjugation of the country. [We take occasion to say here that we trust France will never restore the Algerine territory to the sway of the barbarian and infidel, but hold it at the expense, if need be, of a Continental War.]