Page:The Southern Literary Messenger - Minor.djvu/228

204 "The sins of Bryant, the editor, have not deadened us to the beauties of Bryant the poet." When Thompson was taken to his rest, he was the literary editor of Bryant's Paper; and when the University of Virginia had their celebration of his memory, the testimonial of him by Park Benjamin was as cordially received as any that was given.

Washington Irving is no more and in addition to his own tribute, the editor copies Tuckerman's loving and tearful account of the obsequies at Sunnyside. England loses Macaulay and that sad event is duly commemorated. At this time, there are in the Messenger two controversies relating to Macaulay. One concerns his unfavorable opinions of the United States and the authenticity of his letter to the Hon. H. S. Randall, the biographer of Jefferson. The Messenger obtains and publishes the letter, of whose genuineness there could be no doubt. The other is about Macaulay's characterization of the infamous Duke of Marlborough and is carried on by E. T. and W. G. M., who writes from Westover, Va., whereas Wm. G. Minor, who might have done it, was probably in Missouri. E. T. contributes other things in prose and verse.

Mr. Thompson says, with more than surprise, that Chas. A. Dana's "Household Book of Poetry" does not contain "Home, Sweet Home"!!