_Southern Literary Messenger_.—We have just received the April No. of this work, but have barely had time to read the article on “Maelzel's Chess Player,” which happened to arrest our attention on opening the book. It is exceedingly well written and interesting. The table of contents holds out quite a tempting bill of fare. From the Richmond Whig. _The Southern Literary Messenger_.—The May number of this periodical has just appeared. Though not perhaps equal to some of the preceding numbers, it is far, very far from being deficient either in entertainment or instruction. As all the supporters of this work, and indeed the public generally, have a deep interest in its reputation, it is not only right, but a duty, to pass an occasional judgment upon its merits—to commend its various excellences, and to point out in the spirit of liberal criticism, such faults as may be perceived to exist. The Messenger, to be extensively and permanently popular, must mingle the useful with the sweet. It must not only mirror the burning thoughts and glowing images which teem in the world of fancy, but also condescend an occasional visit to this dull planet, the Earth. It must mix familiarly with ordinary mortals, take some interest in their concerns, and lend a helping {524} hand in the struggles which are now making against power and corruption. Not that the Messenger should become a vehicle of mere party politics, but that the great principles of liberty should be boldly and steadily espoused by its conductors and those various and important measures which concern the welfare and happiness of the State, freely and frequently discussed in its pages. If the Star of this Republic, “the world's last hope,” is destined to go down in darkness, corruption and misery, literature will either follow its fate, or be no longer worth cultivating or preserving. As essentially connected with the great cause of civil liberty, sound morals ought also to find in the Messenger a constant and able advocate. Without freedom and virtue, it is difficult to conceive the existence in any community of a pure and exalted literary taste. Such articles as the “Hall of Incholese,” by J. N. McJilton, are popular only with a small number of readers, and are not calculated to increase the moral reputation of the Messenger. The introduction of the Evil One, as a familiar in human society—as a social companion in scenes of revelry, has rather a tendency to throw an air of ridicule upon the truths of Divine Revelation. Milton indeed pierced the mysterious veil which shrouds the monarch of darkness, but Milton's Satan, “high on his throne of state,” is invested with a sublime terror which forbids the approaches of levity, and leaves behind it no impression inconsistent with revealed truth. No similar exception, however, can be taken to any other article in the present number of the Messenger. The MSS. of Franklin are interesting remains of that