stead of a few simple vegetable remedies, accurately arranged, classified, and _numbered!_ But enough. No man can reflect upon these things, without applying, as I do, the trite quotation, "_tempora mutantur_," &c. Although it has been used for the ten thousandth time, by the whole tribe of newspaper scribblers and juvenile poetasters, yet it has never been more _apropos_. Times _are_ changed; and "oh, _how_ changed!" What mind does not expand at the delightful contemplation of these grand revolutions; and who does not look forward with eagerness to the memorable era when all the vulgar _bourgeois_ qualities of common sense, common decency, and common virtue, will fade into nothingness before the resistless and all powerful "March of Mind!" V. _Lynchburg, Oct. 30, 1834_. For the Southern Literary Messenger. THE VILLAGE ON FOURTH JULY 183--. A TALE. Ergo agite, et lætum cuncti celebremus honorem.--_Virgil_. Risum teneatis amici?--_Horace_. I do not know that the celebration of a Fourth of July in a country village has ever been thought worthy of appearing in print; nor do I know that a tale, founded on such a celebration, has ever been written; and I doubt whether the fancy of any of our geniuses has ever pictured such a subject, either with the pen or pencil. Many of your readers will perhaps be amazed at the thought of such a subject for a tale; but permit me to ask, why not a tale of the Fourth of July as well as any other? Is it because the hearts of a free people, rejoicing on the anniversary of the day which gave them liberty, throb in harmony, and therefore can afford neither novelty nor variety? Granted. But are there not various modes of manifesting, more or less appropriately, the inward emotions of our hearts? Are not our ideas dissimilar as to the manner of exhibiting our feelings, according to our various means, situations and vocations in life--high or low--in cities, towns and country? Then wherefore not? We have read of tales of wo, and tales of bliss, and tales of neither; and, this being the case, I am imboldened to this undertaking, leaving to the better judgment of the reader to assign it to whichever class it properly belongs. * * * * *