Mail Delete then open next message

Ever since I got my mac on Leopard and now even since I upgraded to Snow, my emails when I delete them do not open up the next message. I have scanned the net for answers and all I can find is that it should default to opening the next message but mine does not. Can anyone assist?

Do you have the message pane open in the same window but under the messages?
If not, drag the tiny dot, centre bottom of the window, up towards the messages.
S.

What he said - if you're reading your messages by opening them in a new window and then deleting the message in that window, it will not auto open the next message in a new window.

defaults write com.apple.mail IgnoreSortOrderWhenSelectingAfterDelete 1

Goto next message after delete

in the terminal:
defaults write com.apple.mail IgnoreSortOrderWhenSelectingAfterDelete 1

I have had my Mac about 4 yrs now and never used the mail program. I was just trying to figure this out this morning. This is what I did. Open Mail program and click on Mail > Preferences > Select Viewing at the top > Select choose classic layout then take and drag the line that separates the email list and full email message view all the way up. Once you select the first email at the top and are done reading it just hit delete and it will automatically open the next email for you. Hope this helps.