The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-10-27
PROSPECTUS OF THE
IITHERN LITERARY MESSENGFl
THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND pRopRrEroR.


THIS is MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly 10 literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and
processing entire disdan of tasteful selections though
its matter has been will continue to be, in the main,
original.
Party politics and controversial theology, far pos
sble, jealousy excluded. They are sometimes
blended with discussions literature moral science,
otherwise unobectonabe gain admittance for the
sake Of The valuable matter to which they adhere
bu. wheneysr that happens they are nedn.ai only not
well be severed from the sterling wherewith is
| Incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and it is the editors aim that they should
have threeold tendency-to convey in condensed
FORM such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works revewed-to direct the readers
attention books that deserve be read,-and
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only to be burned In this age of publ
Cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
over~helm every undiscrminating student, impartial
criticism governed by the views Just mentioned is of
the most inestimabe and Indispensable Of auxaries to
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility amusement,
or both,-Historical Sketches,-and "reminiscences of
events too minute for history yet eucdang IT, and height
enng its Interestingly be regarded forming the staple
OF the work. And Of Indigenous poetry enough pub
llshedsometimes OF mean stranto manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetical taste and talents OF our
country "ua.
The times appear for several reasons demand such
a work-and not one alone, but many. The public mind
everish and irritated STILL from political sres
The Soft assuasiyc influence Of literature is needed
aay that fever and soohe that irritation Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke dashed by ridcule, into their fitting hauns
Ignorance lords it over immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in motion, TO arouse
the enlightened and 10 increase their NUMBER that the
great enemy Of popular government may longer brood
like portentous cloud, the destines oil country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent be employed than periodical the plan OF
the Messengers that plan be but carried out practice
The South, peculiarly, requires such agent In all
the Union south Of Washington there but two literary
periodicals Northward Of that city, there probably at
least twenty-five thirty! Is this contrast justified by
the wealth, the leisure. the native talent the actual
literary taste OF the Southern people, compared those
Of the Northern No. for in wealth, talents and taste,
may Justly claim at least equality with our bre-
thren and domestic institution exclusively own,
beyond all doubt affords if choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy
II was from deep sense OF this local want, that Inc
word SOUTHERN engratted the name OF this
periodical; and not with any design to noursh local pre-
judces advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought the editors eryent wish TO see the
North and South bound endearngy together forever in
the sken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medtating hostility the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter to draw much OF his choicest
matter thence happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know the other
better, contribute in essential degree to dspel the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of both, and
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of nternai
love-
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No of its third volume How far it has acted the
ideas here uttered It is not for the editor to say lie
believes however that il falls further short Of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short OF
theory
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number OF the
work contains Ga large superroyal pages printed IN the
very handsomest manner, new type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical is
printed in our country
No subscription will be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current one The price is
IS per volume which be paid in all at the time
Of subscribing This particularly adyered 10 now TO
avoid misrepresentation, future misunders'andng-as
order will hereafter be attended to unless accompanied
with the price of subscription.
The postage on the Messenger six cents any sin
gle No for all distances under 100 mesoSer 100 miles,
ten cents. .....
All communications letters relative to the Messen-
GER must he addressed 10 THOMAS w WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond Va