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

THOMAS w. WHITE EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
TNHIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
J. chiefly TO literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope OF Science and not
protesting entire dsdan OF tasteful selections though
its matter has been it win continue TO be- in The main,
original ,r,;.. - ,h.oo.v g. nos.
sibc, are iealousy excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science
otherwise unobectionabe as to gain admittance for the
sake Of the valuable matter to which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only not
primary, They dross, tolerated only because can
well be severed from the sterling ore wherewh 1t
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and it is the editors aim that they should
have threelold tendency-to convey in a condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reyiewedto direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be readand TO warn
him against wasting time and money upon that large num-
Der, which only TO be burned In this age OF publ
cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
overahelm every undiscriminatng student. impartial
criticism governed by the views Just mentioned OF
the inesiimabe and Indispensable Of auxilares 10
him who does wish TO discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility or amusement.
or both,-Hstorca Sketches,--and "reminiscences OF
events minute for history yet calculating it, and height
ening its Interestingly be regarded forming the staple
Of the work And Of indigenous poetry enough IS pub
lished-sometmes OF mean stran-to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetical taste and talents Of our
| country.
The appear for several reasons, to demand such
work--and not one alone, but many. The public mind
feversh and nitaed STILL from recent political stries
The soft, assuasive influence Of literature is needed, to
aay that fever, and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
rioting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by ridcule, into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords it over an immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in notion TO arouse
the enlightened and increase their number that the
great enemy of popular government may longer brood,
like portcntous cloud, the dcstnes Of country
And to accomplish all these ends, wha. 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
periodicals Northward Of that city, there probably at
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 Northern No. for in wealth, talents, and taste,
We may justly claim at least an equality with our ore-
thren and domestic institution exclusively Our own
beyond all doubt affords il choose, twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
Il was from deep sense Of this local want that the
word SOUTHERN was engraited the name OF tins
PERIODICAL and with any design to nourish local pre-
udces or to advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought IL is the editors eyen wish to see Inc
North and South bound endearngy together forever, in
the sken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medlatng hostility to the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes to draw much o his choicest
matter thence; ano happy indeed will no deem himself,
should his pages by making each region Know the oe
better contribute any essential degree TO dspel The
lowering clouds that threaten the peace OF BOTH and
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of fraerna
love %
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached the
fifth No Of its third volume. How far il has acted out the
ideas here uttered IS not for the editor to say lie
believes however, that 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 Ga large superroya pages, printed in the
very handsomest manner new type, and on paper
equal least that which any other periodical is
printed in our country.
No subscription will be received for less than avolume
and must commence with the The price IS
IS per volume which must be paid all cases at the time
OF subscribing This is particularly adyered TO no" to
avoid msapprchcnsion future misundersianding-as
no order will be attended to unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription
The postage on the Messenger Is SIX cents on any sun
gle No for all distances under 100 mcs--over 100 miles,
ten cents. .
Ger mus, 10 addressed to THOMAS w. WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, va