The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-09-23
tr PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,

THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
THIS IS MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
for articles that fa within the Or Science and
protesting entire disdan Of tssef sescfsons though
its has BEEN % will continue TO be- IN the MAN,
Party politics and con,Ios.Tsial theology, as far as pos
blended with discussions in iiterasfe moral science
otherwise unobectonabe, to gala admtance for the
sake Of The valuable matter to which they adhere
b.. wheneysr that happens they are snssnia only not
not well be severed from the sterling ore whsrewth is
| incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
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 books that deserve be read and
him against wasting time and money upon that large mum
ber which merit only to be burned In this age OF publ
Cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
orerwhelm every undiscriminating student, impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned is one OF
the most nestmabe and indispensable Of auxliares to
him who does wish to discriminate
Essays and Tales, having in view utility amusement
or both,-Hisorical Sketches,-and "Reminiscences OF
events too minute for history yet Calculating IT, and height
enng its be regarded rs forming the staple
of the work. And of Indigenous poetry, enough Is pub
lished Of strainto manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetcal taste and talents OF our
country.
The times appear for several reasons, demand such
a work-and not alone, but many. The public mind
is feversh and irtated STILL from recent POLITICAL sres
The Soft assuasive influence Of literature is needed to
aay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke or dashed by rdicule, into their fitting hauns
Ignorance lords it immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in motion, to arouse
the enlightened and increase their number; that the
% e on
And accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent be employed than periodical on the plan OF
the Messenger il that plan be but carried out in practice
The South, peculiarly, requires such agent In all
the Unon south Of Washington there are but two literary
periodicals. Northward or that city, there probably at
least twenty-v 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 Northen No: for in wealth, talents and taste
may Justly claim ut least equality with our Ire
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
1t was from deep sense OF this local want that the
word SOUTHERN engraftcd on the name OF this
PERIODICAL and not with any design to noush local pre-
udces to advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought is the editors erven wish to see the
North and South bound endearngly together forever IN
the sken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Ear
ss sS e ss Mo Re has
matter thence; ano happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know the other
better contribute any essential degree TO dspel the
lowering clouds that now threaten the peace Of BOTH and
TO brighten and strengthen the sacred ties oil fterna
love.
fifth No Of its third volume. How far il has acted out the
ideas here uttered il is not for the editor to say lie
believes, however, that il falls not further short Of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short oil
theory
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number Of the
work contains 81 large superoya pages, printed IN the
very handsomest manner, on new type and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical is
printed in country.
No subscription viii be received for less than volume,
and must commence with the curren, one The price "
IS per volume which must be paid in all cases at the une
Of subscribing This is particularly advered to no" 10
avoid misapprehension, future misunderstandng-a
order will hereafter he attended TO unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage the Messenger six cents on any SIN
ale No for all distances under 100 mesoyer 100 miles,
ten cents :. 49,
All communications or letters, relative to the Messen-
ger, must be addressed 10 THOMAS W Witt
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond va.