Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-08-16
PROSPECTUS
OF THE
Southern Literary Messenger
THOMAS w. WHITE.
Editor and Proprietor.

THIS IS monthly Magazine, devoted chiefly
TO Literature, but occasionally finding room
also for articles that fall within the scope OF Sci
cnce and not protesting an entire disdain o
tasteful selections, though its matter has been, as
II will continue TO be, in the main, original
Parfy Politics and controversial Theology, as
4 far as possible, are iealously excluded. They
are sometimes so blended with discussions in lite
nature or in moral science, otherwise unoyec
tionable, as TO gain admittance for the sake oil
the more valuable matter TO which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they are incidental,
| only not primary. They dross, tolerated
| only because il cannot well be severed from the
sterling ore wherewith il is Incorporated
REVIEWS and CRITICAL NOTICES. occupy their
due space in the work and IL is the Editors
aim that they should have threeiold tendency
to convey, in a condensed form, such valuable
truths or interesting incidents as are embodied
in the works reviewed to direct the reader $
attention TO books that deserve TO be read, and
10 warn him against wasting time and money
upon that large number, which merit only to be
burned. In this age, of publications that by
their variety aud multitude distract and over
whelm every uudiscriminating student. impartial
lcriticism, governed by the views Just mention
ed, is one Of The most inestimable and ndispen-
sable Of auxiliaries, to HIM who does wish to
discriminate.
ESSAYS and TALES, having in view utility or
amuse ment, or both,-HIsToRIcAL SKETCHES
and hEMiNIsCENCES u events 100 minute iOi
History, yet Calculating it, and heightening its
interest may be regarded as forming the staple
OF the work. And OF indigenous POETRY, enough
is published sometimes Of no mean strain-to
manifest aud to cultivate the growing poetical
! taste aud talents Of our country.
! The times appear, for several reasons, TO de-
mand such a work-and not one alone, but many
| The public mind is feverish and irritated still
from recent political strifes The soft assua-
sive influence of Literature is needed, 10 allay
that fever, and sooihe that irritation. Vice and
! folly are rioting abroad They should be dri'
ven by indignant rebuke, or lashcd by ridicule
into their fitting haunts. Ignorance lords il oyel
an mmence proportion OF our people - Every
spring should be set in motion, TO arouse the en-
heightened, and TO increase their number; so tina
the great enemy of popular government may
no longer brood, like portentious cloud, owe
the destinies of our country. Aud 10 accomplish
all these ends, what more powerful agent car
be employed, than periodical, on the plan o
The Messenger; il that plan be but carried on
fn practice
The Souri,, peculiarly. requires such agent
In all the Union, south of Washington, Their
ace but two Literary periodicals Northwer
of that city, there are probably at least twenty
! FIVE or thirty Is this contrast justified by tn
wealth, the leisure, the native talent, or the nc
! tual literary taste of the Southern people, com
: pared with those Of the Northerne No: for i
4 wealth, talents, and taste, we may justly clair
at least equality with our brethren; and
I domestic institution exclusively our own, b2you
all doubt affords Us, If we choose, twice the Lei
> sure for reading and writing which they enjoy
= IL was from deep sense Of this local wan
! that the word SOUTHERN was engraftcd on III
= name Of this periodical and not with any d,
4 sign TO nourish local prcludices, or 10 advoca
= supposed local interests. Far from any sue
. thought, il is the Editors fervent wish. TO So
the North and South bound endcarlngly togeth
forever, in Che silken bands Of mutual kiudne
+, !, and affection. Far from meditalng hostility
the north, he has already drawn, aud he hop
hereafter 10 draw, much Of his choiSest matt
a thence aud happy indeed will he deem hin
e self, should his pages, by making each regi'
know the other better, contribute in any esse
tial degree to dspcl the lowering clouds tt
now threaten the peace of both, and TO bright
and strengthen the sacred ties OF raternal love
% The SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER h
now reached the fifth No GIFTS third Volume.
How far ii has acted out the ideas here uttcre
y is not for the Editor to say. He believes, hoy
ever, that it falls not further short of them, th
= human weakness usually makes Practice IA
short Of Theory
CONDITIONS.
c The Messenger is issued monthly, Each nun
IS Der of the work contains o. large super-roy
II pages, printed in the very handsomest name
A on new type, and on paper equal al least to tn
;, on which any other periodical IS printed in OF
u country. No subscription will be received f
c less than a Volume, aud must commence wit
J! the current oae. The price is So per VOLUME
which must be paid in all cases at the time
subscribing This is particularly adyerted
nov, 10 avoid misapprehension, or future misuI
ders landing-as no order will hereafter be a
= tended to unless accompanied with the price
subscription,
The postage on the Messenger is SIR cents
any single No. for all distances under 100 mil,
J. over 100 miles ten cents
- lIS-All cOmmunicationt, or letters, relative
I the Messenger, must be addressed 10 " THoMi
w. WHITE, Southern Literary Messenger o
fee, Richmond, "a"
June IL, 1887,