Page:The Southern Literary Messenger - Minor.djvu/107

 Rh Alston's tale, "Monaldi," is artistically commended by a South Carolinian of Cheraw and the author's reputation as a painter is also set forth. Alston gives us a sonnet. Mrs. Anna Cora Mowatt (gracefully reviewed by Poe) has several poems. She attained some rank as an actress; but became Mrs. Wm. F. Ritchie and entered Richmond society, where her culture and taste aided laudable undertakings. Once, on a visit to Mt. Vernon, she charmed her fellow passengers with her fine elocution. Jane Tayloe Lomax, besides her verses and "Love Sketches," treats of Madame de Genlis and Madame de Staël. She was the daughter of Major Lomax, U.S.A., and a niece of Judge John Tayloe Lomax.

"Napoleon, Wellington," etc. Lieut. General Dumas translated into French "Napier's History of the Peninsular War" and the Journal des Débats reviewed it. Alpha translates this review for the Messenger. Archaeus Occidentalis (who was he?) carries through, in nine chapters, his Pennsylvania story, "The Hunchback."

Book notices draw very diverse things into close companionship; e. g., "Lomax's Learned Digest, of the Laws of Real Property," in 3 tomes, is right between "The Youth's Mirror," for Sabbath Schools, and "Random Shots and Southern Breezes," containing critical remarks on the