The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 3, February, 1836Various
General
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 3, February, 1836
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
The writing in this letter has a _fidgetty_ appearance, and would seem
to indicate a mind without settled aims--restless and full of
activity. Few of the characters are written twice in the same manner,
and their _direction_ varies continually. Sometimes the words lie
perpendicularly on the page--then slope to the right--then, with a
jerk, fly off in an opposite way. The thickness, also, of the MS. is
changeable--sometimes the letters are very light and fine--sometimes
excessively heavy. Upon a casual glance at Mr. F.'s epistle, one might
mistake it for an imitation of a written letter by a child. The paper
is bad--and wafered.
LETTER IX.
_Philadelphia_, ----.
[Illustration: Miss Leslie's]
compliments to Mr. Miller. She has no knowledge of the person spoken
of in Mr. Miller's note, and is quite certain there must be some
mistake in the statement alluded to.
JOSEPH I. MILLER, ESQ.
Several persons of our acquaintance, between whose mental character
and that of Miss Leslie we have fancied a strong similitude, write a
hand almost identical with this lady's--yet we are unable to point out
much in the MS. itself according with the literary peculiarities of
Miss L. Neatness and finish, without over-effeminacy, are, perhaps,
the only features of resemblance. We might, also, by straining a
point, imagine (from the MS.) that Miss L. regards rather _the effect
of her writings as a whole_ than the polishing of their constituent
parts. The penmanship is rotund, and the words are always finished
with an inward twirl. The paper tolerable--and wafered.
{209} LETTER X.
_Boston_, ----.
_Dear Sir_,--I have your favor of the ----. For the present I must
decline replying to the queries you have propounded. Be pleased to
accept my thanks for the flattering manner in which you speak of my
Lecture.
I am, Dear Sir, very faithfully, yours,
[Illustration: Edward Everett.]
JOSEPH K. MILLER, ESQ.
Here is a noble MS. It has an air of deliberate precision about it
emblematic of the statesman; and a mingled solidity and grace speaking
the scholar. Nothing can be more legible. The words are at proper
intervals--the lines also are at proper intervals, and perfectly
straight. There are no superfluous flourishes. The man who writes thus
will never grossly err in judgment or otherwise. We may venture to
say, however, that he will not attain the loftiest pinnacles of
renown. The paper is excellent--stout yet soft--with gilt edges. The
seal of red wax, with an oval device bearing the initials E. E. and
surrounded with a scroll, on which are legible only the word _cum_ and
the letters c. o. r. d. a.
LETTER XI.
_New York_, ----.
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