Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-04-02
PROSPECTUS
OF
Monthly Magazine,
LITERARY JOURNAL /;
TO BE
Printed aad Pa5iishei IN Winchester, Pa.)
under the direction Of
JOHN. HEISKELL.
PROSPECTUS
JOHN. HEISKELL.

MoNTESoUIEU, who may be justly con-
sidered 4 master in the science of Political Geo
npnty, has wisely remarked, that free govern
ments, to be durable, must have their foundati-
ON laid in the wisdom and pir.ue ofthe govern
ed The history of free governments, both an
Gent 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 position. 1t is spainful reaecti-
on, that Republics have been cphemeral and
short lived. The proud structures of Grccian
and Roman liberty, whose apparent strength
gave promise of Milicneal duration, might still
have remained the wonder and admiration of
the world, had not the dissemination of useful
knowledge, and the practice of VIRTUE, given
place to the eternal round of gaudy and enerva-
ting games and exhibitions, devised and multi
piled by ambitious men for their dcstruction
Every effort, therefore, calculate1to dfusc use
ful knowledge, mend the heart, and inculcate
principles ofsound morality, under a govern
ment proudly pre-emincnt in the scale of RE-
PuBLIcs, such as the wisdom of our foref,th-
ers established for the people OF the UNITED
STATES, may be considered keystone in the
arch of our political fabrck, & may Justly claim
the patronage of all who participate in its ines
Unable blessings. 1t may be safely asserted,
the surest barrier to the destruction of our free
government, is to keep the people virtuous, and
their own rights And until 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 It's pristine purity, can be effected in no way
so extensively, as through the medium of peri.
odcal publications embracing subjects of use
full learning, calculated to promote virtue and
enlarge the derstanding-adapted, in cost,
20 the economy of every class in society, and
CT and eyt IN alaic Of
whatever may be his pursuits. Publications of
the foregoing description, cannot be too much
cherished or extended. Il 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 falschood.
In Virginia, it is to be lamented, not soli-
tary Journal, conducted upon these principles,
is to be found; while every insignificant village
affords II 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
as soon as sufficient Patronage is extended 70
the undertaking, to be entitled "THE MONTH
LY MAG AZiNE AND LITERARY JOURNAL,
This work VIII be made, as far us is practicable,
a repository for USEFUL HNowLEDGE, calcu-
lated to instruct and amuse it patrons. To eff
feet this object, all the distinguished periodi-
Cal publications, both FOREIGN and DoMEs-
TIC, within the reach of the Editor, will he
procured, from which it will be his unccasing
solcitude, assisted by literary friends, who have
kindly promised their aid, to make the most
Judicious selections-caretully avoiding all
subjects calculated to excite passion, arouse in
temperate controversy and particularly avoiding
domestic poiiticS.--Iuch original matter
cannot be promised-eyery occasion, how
ever, will be seized with pleasure, to pre-
sent to the patrons of the work, original com
munications upon Agriculture, or subjects con-
nccted 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.-
rty, this subject will engage the particuIar 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-in
fine, it will contain miscellaneous articles re-
lating to every subject proper for insertion in
literary surnal and 20 the votaries of the
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 ofthe public, he
ubnits the following
CONDITIONS OF PUBLICATION
l. THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE and L1r
ERARY Journal" will be published on the
hrst OF every Mouth, with a small ne7v tybs
and on paper not inferior to the Port Folio
Each number, shall contain sixty four octave
pages Croyal size paper.1 Its execution shall
be Interior to no other periodical publication
in tie United States
III, The Price per snnum will be FOUR DOL.
LARS, payable, ono half on the receipt oftbe
first number, the remainder at the commence
nent of the second half year.
III. The numbers will be so arranged ne IN
form two volumes in each year, and a title
page and index viii be given with each vol
une.
w No Subscription to be discontinued OK.
cept az the end of tic year, and ON payner
Of what then may be due
V. Those persons who may procure ten sub
scrlbcrs and become accountable for the
payment, will be entitled 10 one COPY.
O. The work will be forwarded by Mail {,
any part OF tho State, at fifty cents per annum ~
TO any part OF the United States ut scventv.Gy
cents It's publication will commence the frs,
OF April, If three hundred subscribers sbal,
then have been obtained
IT GentlemeA to whom Proposals have bee,
sent, viii please TO return list Of the name
they may have procured, previous to the lot
March.-The printed Proposals may remain
with the posscssor
- Subscriptions arc received at the Ola
Of the Virginia ATgas.
r3N1