_The Southern Literary Messenger_--We have long meditated a more extended notice of this elegant periodical, than we have hitherto found leisure to give--not more on account of our numerous Southern friends--with whom it must necessarily be a favorite, than of our literature generally, to which the Messenger forms a very creditable addition. And notwithstanding that our columns for this week are mainly bespoken, we must not allow the current number--being the first of a new volume--to pass from our table without a brief glance over its contents. "_Sketches of the History and Present Condition of Tripoli_, with some account of the other Barbary States," is the opening paper, written by one evidently conversant with his subject, and whose chapters are calculated to add materially to the meager stock of popular information hitherto possessed with regard to the history and present condition of the Barbary powers. "_Scraps from an Unpublished Drama, by Edgar A. Poe_," contains one or two stirring and many beautiful passages--but we are not partial to dramatic poetry. Speaking of poetry, we find some that is commendable, and much that we deem, with all deference, well nigh execrable. Of the former class is "October." Of the otherwise, nearly all that is intended for blank verse may serve as a specimen. It is singular that people will continue, in the face of good advice, to break up sober prose into unequal and most inharmonious lines, and then attempt to pass it off for verse, which it very remotely resembles. The following is extracted from an article which really contains poetry. "The story goes, that a Neglected girl (an orphan whom the world Frowned upon) once strayed thither, and 't was thought Did cast her in the stream." "_An Address on Education_," by Lucian Minor, is among the best articles in the Messenger. It were well if such a startling exhibition of facts, such an array Of cogent reasonings, were presented to every influential citizen of our vast Union. "_Extracts from my Mexican Journal_" are judicious and replete with information. We remark that, since recent occurrences have rendered Mexico an object of interest in this country, the observations of tourists and men of business who have lately visited that country, are very liberally drawn upon by our Monthlies.