The southern literary messenger, Vol. II., No. 10, September, 1836

In Short

This September 1836 issue of the Southern Literary Messenger is an American literary journal compiling political philosophy, historical drama, educational theory, fiction, and literary criticism. Its contents range from Edward Lytton Bulwer’s dramatic play on Oliver Cromwell to sharp commentary on the British House of Lords, essays on democratic representation, and reviews of contemporary books. The volume endures because it preserves a real-time record of the intellectual, moral, and political debates shaping antebellum American culture, offering a direct window into the early nineteenth-century reading mind through diverse literary forms and persuasive arguments.

The Story

The volume opens in the realm of history and drama with the first act of Edward Lytton Bulwer’s Cromwell. Set in Whitehall, the play opens in the immediate aftermath of King Charles I’s execution. Cromwell’s allies—Harrison, Ireton, and Martin—confront a restless crowd fascinated by the fallen king. As Cromwell grapples with the immense political burden he now carries, his ward Cecil confronts him, resigning his post in protest against the regicide and declaring his loyalty to the late king’s son.

From this dramatic exploration of power, the issue shifts toward practical governance and civic morality. A series of detailed essays confronts the state of American education, arguing that schools focus too heavily on rote academic achievements and college diplomas while neglecting the heart and moral character. The writer calls for rigorous oversight, urging parents and teachers to ground all learning in moral discipline and spiritual truth rather than mere worldly ambition.

The political argument deepens through a sustained debate over the doctrine of instruction—the principle that elected officials, specifically U.S. Senators, are bound to obey the explicit directions of their state legislatures or resign. Analyzing historical precedent from the British Parliament and the writings of figures like James Madison and Patrick Henry, the author maintains that representation is inherently vicarious and that true democratic accountability requires officials to submit to the deliberate judgment of their constituents.

Turning its view overseas, the journal presents a vivid, satirical, and highly detailed report on the British House of Lords. The writer scrutinizes figures like Lord Denman, the millionaire English bishops in their foppish attire, and ultra-Tory peers such as the Duke of Newcastle and Lord Winchelsea, exposing the conservative anxieties and rigid class dynamics driving British politics.

The issue then turns to poetry, foreign fiction, and narrative sketches. Verses mourn lost love and reflect on spiritual reunion, while translated stories explore themes of domestic choice, celibacy, and social expectations. Historical narratives examine how trivial disputes—such as a brawl between two porters in Acre—escalated into devastating wars between Genoa and Venice.

Finally, the journal offers extensive critical reviews of contemporary literature. It summarizes Mrs. Child’s classical novel Philothea, detailing its Athenian setting, philosophical trances, and emotional arcs, and recounts the humorous narrative of I. Dulmer Dawkins, a man trapped in a bizarre identity-swap and social climbing. The issue closes with an evaluation of William Hazlitt’s critical genius, celebrating his ability to unite imagination with rigorous intellect.

How It Unfolds

The regicide's aftermath In Whitehall, Cromwell’s key supporters manage a curious, restless crowd clamoring to see the body of the executed king. Cecil confronts Cromwell over the execution, refusing to support the new regime and resigning his office to align with the exiled prince.

Reimagining human education An extensive educational treatise argues that modern schools ruin minds by prioritizing academic intellect over moral and religious training. The author insists that true education must nourish the heart as its root, calling on parents and teachers to reform school discipline.

Defending representative duty A thorough constitutional essay examines whether Senators are obligated to follow legislative instructions or resign. Drawing on British parliamentary history and the debates of the American founders, the writer argues that obedience to the public will is the cornerstone of a republic.

Exposing the British aristocracy A lively travel dispatch peers into the House of Lords, dissecting the hypocrisy of wealth-stuffed bishops and the stubbornness of ultra-Tory peers. The narrator paints a sharp portrait of an elite class resisting popular reform.

Stories of love and conflict Short fiction and poetry contemplate the quiet choices of single life, the grief of early death, and historical conflicts triggered by tiny sparks, such as a street fight between porters that ignited a war between Genoa and Venice.

Critiquing the new literature The journal concludes with detailed reviews of recent books, analyzing Mrs. Child’s Greek romance Philothea, a satirical comedy of mistaken identity, and the theoretical art essays of William Hazlitt.

The People

• Oliver Cromwell: The central figure of Bulwer’s drama, who bears the heavy burden of statecraft after executing Charles I. He seeks to maintain political stability and preserve his relationship with his adopted son, Cecil, while defending his controversial choices as necessary for peace.
• Cecil: A idealistic young officer raised and favored by Cromwell. Devoted to duty and horrified by the king's execution, he rejects Cromwell's appeals, resigns his commission, and pledges his loyalty to the dead king's son.
• Stephanie: An thoughtful elder sister in a French translated narrative who defends her choice to remain unmarried. Having suffered a broken engagement in her youth, she finds fulfillment in art, literature, and raising her younger sister rather than entering a cold marriage.
• Leopoldine: Stephanie’s spirited younger sister, who candidly admits she would rather risk an imperfect marriage than remain single, serving as a foil to Stephanie’s quiet independence.
• Duke of Newcastle: A prominent British peer depicted in the foreign commentary as a slow-witted, furious opponent of political reform, symbolizing the stubborn resistance of the ultra-Tory aristocracy.
• I. Dulmer Dawkins: The blundering protagonist of a reviewed satirical story who finds himself transformed into another man, navigating pushy creditors, complex marriage schemes, and high-society pretense.

In Its Own Voice

"The man called Charles Is the same clay as yours and mine. Lo! yonder Lies, yet unburied, a brave draper's corpse; Go ye and gaze on that!"

In Bulwer's opening drama, Henry Martin turns away a curious citizen seeking to see the fallen king, insisting that royal blood holds no special sanctity over that of a common tailor.

"We go to work most laboriously upon the head, before we so much as think of the heart, which may well be called the root of all our actions."

An essayist on education laments that schools focus entirely on intellectual achievement while neglecting the fundamental moral discipline necessary for true human happiness.

"To say that a Senator is not bound to obey or resign, because his conscience requires him to retain his seat and disobey—but that he will in fact sometimes obey from respect or influence, is reasoning about as correctly as it would be to say, 'That he ought not to be held responsible because he is honest, but that he may be trusted because he is corrupt...'"

A political commentator aggressively dismantles the argument that elected representatives should be free to ignore the explicit instructions of their constituents.

What It's Really About

At its core, this volume explores the sources of legitimate authority and moral responsibility. Whether examining a government, an educational system, or an individual life, the collection continually asks what guides human conduct when old structures collapse. In Bulwer's drama, Cromwell and Cecil struggle over whether political necessity can justify regicide. In the essays on education and constitutional law, the authors argue that both personal character and political representation must be anchored in clear duties—teachers to the moral heart of the child, and Senators to the explicit will of the people they serve. Across its varied genres, the issue insists that intellect and power are dangerous unless governed by moral integrity.

Why Read It Today

This collection will appeal to readers who enjoy nineteenth-century history, political theory, and period literature. It offers the unique sensation of sitting down with an original magazine from 1836, taking in the exact mix of drama, gossip, serious political debate, and book reviews that engaged readers nearly two centuries ago. Reading it feels like uncovering a forgotten time capsule of the American mind.

The volume does require patience with period prose. The arguments on constitutional theory and parliamentary law are dense and highly detailed, assuming a reader familiar with nineteenth-century political figures. The poetry and translated fiction reflect the sentimental conventions of the era, while the social commentary reveals the unabashed biases and religious assumptions of its time. Yet for those interested in how antebellum Americans thought about democracy, morality, and culture, these pages remain deeply compelling, offering an authentic, unfiltered encounter with the past.