Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-03-26
PROSPECTUS
Monthly Magazine,
LITERARY JOURNAL /;
TO BE
Printed and Pabkisheiin Winchester, Ya.)
under the direction of
q JOHN HEISKELL.
JOHN HEISKELL.
sfoNTEsoUIEu, who NAV be Justly G


MoNTESQUIEU, who may be Justly con
sidered master in the science Of Political Ueo-
no,ny, l,as wisely remarked, that free govern
ments, to be durable, must have their foundatl-
on laid in the wisdom, and oDtae of the govern
ed. The history of free governments, both an
cient and modern, Cf any have existed to which
that character could be fairly attributed,) fur.
nish conclusive evidence to the truth of that
great writer's posltonS II is painful refecti-
on, that Republics have been ephemerl and
short lived. The proud structures of Grecian
and Roman liberty, whose apparent strength
gsfe premise of Milieneal duration, might still
have remained the wSnder and admiration OF
the world, had not the dissemination of useful
knowledge, and the practice of viRrUE, given
place to the eternal round of gaudy and enerva-
ting games and exhibitions, devised and multi
Dlied by ambitious men for their destruction.
Every effort, therefore, calculated to diffuse use
full knowledge, mend the heart, and inculcate
principles of sound morality, under a govern
ment proudly pre-eminent in the scale of RE-
PUZZLES, such as the wisdom of our forefath-
ers established for the people of the UNITE D
STATES, may be considered keystone in the
arch Of our political fabrick, 6. may justly claim
the patronage of all who participate IN its ines
tmabe blessings 1t may be safely asserted,
the surest barrier to the destruction of our free
government. is to keep the people virtuous, and
sufficiently enlightened to know and appreciate
their own rights And until 4 national system
Of education be adopted, and carried into exc
cution, that general diffusion of knowledge, so
essential to the preservation of our government,
in its pristine purity, can be effected in no way
SO extensively, as through the medium of peri
odical publications embracing subjects o. use
full learning, calculated to promote virtue and
enlarge the neutrality-suspicious., in cost,
to the economy of every class in society, and
in size and extent, TO the leisure of every man
whatever may be his pursuits. Publications of
the foregoing description, cannot be too much
cherished or extended. 1t would be for the
happiness and welfare of our country, if every
town and village contained one of those pure
fountains Of instruction, to the exclusion of ga
zettes, which make the domestic politics of our
country too often the theme of party violence,
rancour and falsehood.
In Virginia, it is to be lamented, not a soli-
tary journal, conducted upon these principles,
is to be found; while every insignificant village
affords at least one gazette, devoted TO the dis
cussion of topics calculated to arouse all the
turbulent passions of the human heart. A pc
riodical work will be published in Winchester
al soon as sufficient patronage is extended to
the undertaking, to be entitled "THE MONTH
LsY sIA6t&xENk5 t,sp OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES %
This work will be made, as far as is p-act,eaSic,
a repository for USEFUL KNowLEDCE, calcu-
lated to instruct and amuse it patrons. Po eff
feet this object, all the distinguished period
cal publications, both FOREIGN and DoMEs-
TIC, within the reach of the Editor, will he
procured, from which it will be his unceasing
solicitude, assisted by literary friends, who have
kindly promised their aid, to make the most
| judicious sclections-car avoiding all
subjects calculated to excite passion, arouse in.
temperate controversy aid particularly avoiding
| domestic boiiticS.---MIch original matter
cannot be promised-every occasion, how
1 L.. IL
| sent to the patrons Of the work, original com
munications upon Agriculture, or subjects con
| nected Herewith, whenever the facts they con
tain promise to be useful. Selections will be
industriously made from foreign and domestic
publications on the culture of the soil.-Agri
culture being the basis OF our national prospe
| rity, this subject viii engage the particular at
| tention of the Editor. This work will also be
made the repository Of important state paper
and documents relating to the population, com
| merce, manufactures and public revenue of the
United States, and particularly of Virginia-ir
| fine, it will contain miscellaneous articles re
lating to eveyy subject proper for insertion in
| literary jsurnal; and to the votaries of tho
| Muse, and lovers of Anecdote. the Editor pro
misses, that an ample share of his attention shall
not be wanting. With the foregoing pretenti
ons to the favor and patronage Of the public, he
| submits the following
CONDITIONS OPPUBLICATIoN
l. THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE and LIT
ERARY JoURNAL" win be published on the
first of every Month, with a small relv fy6e
| and on paper not inferior to the Port Folio
Each number, shall contain sixty four octave
pages Croyal size PAper] Its execution shall
be inferior to no other periodical publication
| in the United States.
| H. The Price per annum will be FOUR Dol.
LARS, payable, one half on the receipt of TN,
first number, the remainder at the Commence
ment of the second half year.
| Ill. The numbers will be SO arranged as {,
form two volumes in each year, and It'll,
page and index viii be given with each vol
ume.
Nv. No Subscription. to be discontinued ex
cept at the end Of the year, and on paymen
of what then may be due
V. Those persons who may procure ten sub
scribers and become accountable for ia,
| payment, will be entitled to one copy.
or The work will be forwarded by Mail e
any part of the State, at fifty cents per annum, o.
to any part OF the United States at seventy.fv,
cents. It's publication will commence the frs
| of April, if three hundred subscribers shall
| then have been obtained.
| or GentlemeR to whOm Proposals have beer
sent, will please to return a list Of the nance
they may have procured, previous to the IOtl
March-The printed Proposals may remain
| with the possessor.
| - Subscriptions are received at the ORc
Of the Virginia Argus.