The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-10-31
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGF
THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR


THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
j chiefly TO literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and
protesting entire disdan of tasteful selections though
its matter has been as will continue to be, IN the MAN,
original ,.:
sibe, Jealousy excluded. They are sometimes 50
blended with discussions in literature moral science
otherwise unobjectonabe, to gain Abundance for the
sake Of the valuable matter which they adhere
but wheneysr that happens they are s.dsnal only not
not well be severed from the sterling wherewith
Incorporated
in the work and it is the editors aim that they should
have threefold tendency--to convey in condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reviewed, Ito direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be readand to warn
him against wasting time and money upon that large
Der, which only to be burned In this age Of publ
Cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
oyerWhelm every undiscrimnating student impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned Is one OF
the most inestimabe and indispensable Of auxarcs,
him who does wish to discriminate .
Essays and Tales, having in wutility amusement
or both,-Historicai Sketches,-and "reminiscences OF
minute for history yet calculating it, and height
ening its be regarded as forming the staple
OF the work And OF Indigenous poetry, enough pub
shed-sometimes OF mean strainto manifest and To
cultivate the growing poetcal taste and talents OF our
country.
The appear, for several reasons, demand such
work-and not alone but many. The public mind
is feverish and irritated STILL from political sreS
The soft, assuasive influence of literature is needed 70
alay that fever and soohe that irritation Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, or dashed by ridicule into their fitting hauns
ignorance lords it over an immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in motion, to arouse
the enlightened and to increase their numbers so that the
great enemy of popular government may no longer brood
like por,cntous cloud, the dcstnies Of country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent be employed than periodical, the plan OF
the Messenger if that plan be but carried out in practice
The South, peculiarly, requires such an agent In all
the Union, south of Washington there are but two literary
periodicals Northward Of that city, there probably at
least twenty-five thirty Is this contrast justified 10y
the wealth, the leisure the native talent, the actual
literary taste Of the Southern people, compared with those
Of the Norhern No: for in wealth. talents, and taste
may Justly claim at least equality with our hre
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our OWL
beyond all doubt affords II choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
1t was from deep Of this local want, that Tie
word SOUTHERN was engrafted the name of tins
periodical and with any design TO nourish local pre-
JUDGES to advocate supposed local interests Far IRON
any such thought the editors crvent wish to see the
North and South bound endearingy together forever IN
the slken bands Of mutual kindness and affection faf
from meditang hostility to the North he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter to draw much Of his choicest
matter thence; ano happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know the other
BETTER contribute in any essential degree 10 dspel the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of both and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF fratcFna
love. ,.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No. Of its third volume. How far it has acted out The
ideas here uttered it is for the editor lie
believes however that it falls not 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 81 large super-roya pages printed IN Inc
very handsomest manner, on new type, and on paper
equal at least 10 that which any other periodical IS
printed in our country. s. ..
No subscription viii be received for less than avolumr
and must commence with the current The Pre-" Is
SIS per volume which must be paid in all cases at the time
Of subscribing This is particularly advccd to no" 10
avoid misapprehension or future msunderstandng-aS
no order will hereafter be attended to unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription
The postage on the Messenger is six cents on any sn
gle No for all distances under loomios-over loo miles,
cents. =,
AN communications letters, relative to the Messen'
ger must be addressed TO THoMAs w WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond Va