The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-09-02
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPHET

".
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly TO literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope OF Science and not
protesting entire dsdan OF tasteful selections though
has been, will continue to be, in the main,
original ,,,.,,o.
sibe, jealously excluded They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science,
otherwise unobjectonabe, to gain admttance for the
sake Of the valuable matter to which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only not
primary They are dross tolerated only because ii
not well be severed from the sterling ore wherewith IS
Incorporated
in the work and it is the editors aim that they should
have threefod tendency-to convey in condensed
form, such valuable truths or interesting incidents as are
embodied in the works reyiewed,-to direct the readers
attention TO books that deserve TO be read,and TO warn
him against wasting time and money upon that large mum
Der, which merit only to be burned In this age OF publ
cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
over"h helm every undscriminating student, impartial
CRITICISM governed by the views just mentioned is one OF
the most inesmable and indispensable OF auxiliares 10
him who does wish TO discriminate
Essays and Tales having utility amusement
or both,-Hstorcal Sketches,-and "Reminiscences of
events minute for history Calculating it, and height
cning its Interestingly be regarded forming the staple
Of the work And of Indigenous poetry, enough is pub
lishcd-somemes OF mean strain-o manifest and TO
cultivate the growing poeca taste and talents OF our
country.
The times appear for several reasons to demand such
work-and not one alone, bu many. The public mind
IS ieverish and nated STILL from recent political stncs
The soft, assuasve influence Of literature is needed 10
aay that fever, and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
rotng abroad: They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by ridicule, into their fitting hauns
Ignorance lords it an immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in motion, TO arouse
the enlightened and increase their number that the
great enemy OF popular government may no longer bro"
like porcntous cloud the desnies OF our country
And 10 accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent be employed than periodical, on 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 but two literary
,l.lIV
least twenty-five or 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 Northern No for wealth. talents, and tasic
we may justly claim at least equality with our me
ihren; and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords We choose twice the leisure
for reading antwrtng, which they ENJOY.
IL was from deep OF this local want that the
word SOUTHERN cngrattcd the name OF tins
JUDGES advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought is the editors eryent wish to see Tue
North and South bound endearingly together forever IN
the skcn bands OF mutual kindness and affection Far
from mcdi,atng hostility to the North he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter 10 draw much oil his choicest
matter thence; ano happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know the ohef
better contribute in any essential degree to dspe inc
lowering clouds that threaten the peace oil both ana
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties oil iraterh-
love
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached the
fifth No Of its third volume How far it has acted out ne
ideas here uttered is not for the editor to say ne
believes however that it falls not further short OF them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall so O
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number OF the
work contains Ga large super-roya pages, printed IN he
very handsomost manner, new type, and on paper
equal at least TO that which any other periodica y
printed in our country
No subscription will be received for less than VOLUME
and must commence with the current The price is
IS per volume which must be paid in all cases at the mc
of subscribing This is particularly advercd 10 no" 70
| avoid Misrepresentation, or future MISUNDERSTANDING
no order hereafter be attended unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage the Messenger is six cents on any Sun
Gle No FOR all distances under 100 mes-oyer loo mics
ten cents. :,
All communications letters, relative to the Messe"
ger, must be addressed 10 THOMAS W WHIT
Southern Literary Messenger Office kichtnoho' -