The present No. (No. 1. Vol. 2,) is by far the best yet issued. In the first place we have a continuation of the _History and present condition of Tripoli, with some account of the other Barbary Powers_. These sketches, from the pen of Robert Greenhow of Washington, have acquired an extensive reputation, and the present chapter is equal to any of the series. By the bye, the last number of Harper's Family Library contains the "_History and present condition of the Barbary States_," _by the Rev. Dr. Russell_. Here is surely a great similarity in the titles--more than we can suppose to be accidental. We know that the sketches in the Messenger commenced nine months ago. _The Extracts from my Mexican Journal_ are highly interesting, but would be better were they more modern. The date of the last Extract is 1827. _Minor's Address_ on Education is one of the finest things of the kind we have ever perused, and we should not wonder if it drew public attention to the subject it discusses--the establishment of District Schools throughout Virginia upon a plan similar to that in New England. _The Wissahiccon_ is not very creditable to the Magazine--it might, however be considered as tolerable elsewhere. _Lionel Granby_ is evidently written by a man of genius. The present Chapter is the seventh. _The MS. found in a Bottle_ is extracted from _The Gift_, Miss Leslie's beautiful Annual. It is from the pen of Edgar A. Poe, "whose eccentric genius," says {136} the Charleston Courier, "delights in the creation of strange possibilities, and in investing the most intangible romances in an air of perfect verisimilitude." We have heard the _MS. found in a Bottle_, called the best of his Tales--but prefer his _Lionizing_ and _Morella_.--The highest praise, however, and from the very highest quarters, has been awarded to _all_ he has written. The _Specimens of Love Letters_ in the reign of Edward IV. is an excellent article. The Editorial department, under the modest head of Critical Notices, embraces no less than 56 columns of liberal and well-digested Reviews of new publications. Among these, are Notices of Dr. Bird's last novel--Miss Sedgwick's Linwoods--Glass' Life of Washington--The Edinburgh, London Quarterly, Westminster, and N. American Reviews--The Crayon Miscellany--Godwin's Necromancy--Legends of a Log Cabin--Mrs. Hale's traits of American Life--Hall's Western Sketches--Clinton Bradshaw--and many others--not forgetting Norman Leslie, which is utterly torn to pieces in a long and detailed Review of the most bitter and unsparing sarcasm. These Reviews speak well for the future prosperity of the Messenger. Let its Editor aim at making the Magazine a vehicle for liberal and independent criticisms, and he will not fail to receive a proper encouragement from every lover of literature.