Page:The Southern Literary Messenger - Minor.djvu/216

 192 like Poe, was born in Boston, whilst his parents were there temporarily; but he gained his chief distinction in Kentucky, where he was a teacher and author in medicine and theology. But he changed his relations from the Methodist to the Episcopal Church and published a work against the validity of Presbyterian Ordination. On this account, the Presbyterian organ in Richmond berates the Messenger and its editor very severely. Mr. Thompson defends himself very successfully; and this fact may be added to show how ill-judged was this attack. When the church of that remarkable man, Rev. Dr. Moses D. Hoge, was dedicated, Mr. Thompson had, by invitation, composed a hymn for the occasion.

Still, there was room for much good literary matter. Paul H. Hayne has become not only an editor, but a lecturer. He is noted for his sonnets, and Thompson pops off one at him, for his volume of them. Among the contributors are Jno. P. Kennedy, W. S. Grayson, H. T. Tuckerman, E. A. Pollard, Ex-President John Tyler, Gov. H. A. Wise, S. A. L. of Washington, Pa., and Prof. J. M. Fishburn. There are reviews of St. Geo. Tucker's tale of Bacon's Rebellion, Percival's poems and of the Edinburgh Review, of October, 1856, for its assault upon the United States.

Among the poets are Barron Hope (who now