Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-02-25
Audi ct alteram parte.n.
PROSPECTUS.

EF either the ambition of displaying lite
n rary talents and requirements, ar
wish To recommend ourselses 10 favor with
the party in power, were tile motive to
our present undertaking, no occasion could
offer a better field tor defamation than
the conspicuous station and unbounded
scope of Prospectus. But as neither OF
these splendid views originally attracted,
or now eXCites us to acton as we cam
ditiiy own that we are i'll qualified for the
former and, having no design to praise
Mr.. Madison or to blame his enemies, can
bave no expectation or hope OF the latter
we resist every temptation To ! brilliant or
noisy developement of oor plan, and pro-
ceed to state, III plain English, what we
intend or wish to do.
Under the simple and appropriate title
above expressed, we propose to pubnsh at
this, the seat of Government of our native
State, l Daily Paper combining, together
with local matter and the news or the day,
a view of whatever may be most interest
ing in the principal newspapers of The u.
States.
We shall trespass on the patience of the
public by adding few observations to show,
first, that such print must, at the pre-
sent crisis, be generally desirable second
| ly, that il will be particularly comInodIous
| to the inhabitants of Richmond and all vino
| have much communication with this empo
rum of Virginia; and lastly, that our plan
will embrace some peculiar advantages,
not offered by any other print, that we
| know of, in the United States.
| l.. The present is no common crisis.
Peace, and all her smiling prospects, being
Withdrawn; her innocent aud virtuous pur
suits being at least deranged, if not total
/ LII
mated by patriotic or social principles, Can
now 30 on, calmly intent ola MS favOrIte
studies, or TRANQUILITY occupied by his pro-
fessional duties andaccustomed avocations
1.-The blast of War tfrums in our ears
the storm rolls every day nearer-the Enc
my assails us from abroad-and parties,
| unfortunately, 1--WE allude TO the Eastern
| States) are not united at home. At such
| a time, who can be SO devoid pf sentiment
and feeling as to remain unmoved None
1t is a Crisis thai Involuntary affects ali
classes of society and Whal is the
news? What is The He7Os ?'' is a questi-
| on which all who 90 out hasten TO ask, and
| every one that comes in IS expected to AN
| swer. II is to this interesting enquiry that
we propose to give a daily Response. The
times demand, aud local circumstances
particularly require it..
2. There is no situation III Virginia, none
in the United States perhaps, where, in pro.
portion to the population, there can be
found more ofgeneral intelligence and com
mercial activity, than in the City of Rich
mond. a disposition in particular, to en-
courage whatever tends towards literary oil
political improvement, pervadssa all classes o
citizens. Hence, together with other IN
sttutions, evidences of Richnond's CROWNS
prosperity, three large Printing Establish
ments find liberal and abundant support
The Newspapers that issue from these
however, with the exception of the En-
quirer for q part Of the Year, are printe
only twice week and what, at this event
ful'perIod, is a circumstance much to b.
regretted, they all three appear very near
~ at the same time ; so that, twice In cacl
week, there occurs a tedious interval of tw