The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-09-21
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,

THOMAS w WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly to literature, but occasionally finding room
for articles that fall within the scope OF Science and not
protesting entire disdan Of tasteful selections though
its matter has bcen 1t will continue TO be- in the MAN.
original
Party politics and controversial theology as far as pos
sible, are jealousy excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature or in moral science
otherwise unobectionahe to gain admttance for the
sake Of the valuable matter which they adhere
but whenever that haPpens they are incidental only
primary. They dross, tolerated only because
not well be severed from the sterling wherew,h
incorporated
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and 1t the editors aim that they should
have threefod lendency-to convey in q condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reviewed. direct the readers
attention 10 books that deserve to be read,-and
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only TO be burned In this age Of pub
cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
overshelm every Understanding student impartial
CRITICISM governed by the views just mentioned, Of
the most inestmable and indispensable Of auxares TO
him who does wish 70 discriminate.
Essays and Tales having in view utility or amusement
or both,-Hstorcal Sketches,-and "reminiscences OF
events too minute for history yet calculating it, and height
ening its be regarded forming the staple
Of the work And of indigenous poetry, enough pub
lished-sometimes Of strainto manifest and
cultivate the growing poetica taste and talents Of
| country.
The times appear for several reasons, to demand such
work not one alone, but many. The public mind
is fcyerish and rrated STILL from recent political stes
The soft, assuasve influence Of literature needed
alay that fever, and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
riong abroad: They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by rdicue, into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords it over an immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in motion, to
the enlightened, and TO increase their number that the
great enemy OF popular government may longer brood
like porcntous cloud the destnies Of country
And to accomplish all these ends, what powerful
agent be employed than periodical the plan Of
the Messenger il that plan be but carried practice
The South, peculiarly, requires such an agent In all
the Union, south Of Washington there but two Literary
periodicals. Norhward OF that city, there probably
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 with those
OF the Northcmf No: for in wealth, talents, and
we may Justly claim at least equality with brc.
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords if we choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
IL was from deep Of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN was engrated the name Of this
periodical and with any design nonrsh local PIE.
JUDGES, advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought IL is the editors fcvent wish the
North and South bound endearngly together forever
the sken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medating hostility the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much OF his choicest
matter thence; ano happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages by making each know the Other
better contribute in any essential degree dispc the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of BOTH and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of atern4
love
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached The
fifth No Of its third volume How far il has acted out the
ideas here uttered il is not for the editor to saw He
believes however, that it falls further shor, OF them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short OF
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number ofthc
work contains o. large superroyal pages printed in the
very handsomest manner, type, and paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical
printed in country.
No subscription will lie received for less than volume,
and must commence with the current one. The pnce Is
IS per volume, which be paid in all the tine
OF subscribing. This is particularly adsertcd TO no" 10
avoid msapprehension, future misnndcrstanding-as
order will hereafter be attended unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage the Messenger is six cents any sn.
gle No for all distances under 100 milesoyer 100 miles,
ten cents. eE .Ee
All communications letters, relative to the Messen.
ger, must he addressed 70 THonAs w, WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va,