Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-07-05
PROSPECTUS
OF TIE
Southern Literary Messenger,
THOMAS w. WHITE.
Editor and Proprietor

THIS IS monthly Magazine. devoted thieny
10 Literature. bat occasionally finding room
also for articles that fall within the scope Of Sci.
enee and not protesting an entire disdaia If
tasteful selections, though its matter has been, a.
n will contluae to be. in the main, original.
Party Politics aud controversial 7nsolcgy, ss
far a. possible. are jeslously excluded. They
are sometimes 50 pleaded with discussions In lite
nature or Ia moral science, otherwise unobjec.
toaablr, as 20 gaia adn,ii,snce for the sake Of
the more valuable matter TO which they adhere !:
but whenever that happens, they are incidental.
only not primary. They are dross, tolerated
only because il cannot well be severed from the
sterling ore wherewith IL Is incorporated.
REviEws and CRtrIcAt NoTicEs. oerupy their
due space IN the work and II is the Editors
aim that they should have a threefoid tendency
- 10 convey.in condensed form, sheh valuable
truths or interesting incidents as are embodied
in the works reviewed, Ito direct the readers
attention TO books that deserve TO be read and
TO warn him against wasting time and money
upon thai large number, which merit only to be
burned. In this age, OF publications that BY
their variety aud multitude distract and over.
whelm every aadiscrimaating sthdcrt, impartial
criticism, governed by tho we've Just nen,ion.
ed. Is one Of the most ioestimAhe aud iadispcn.
sable Of arxiliaries, to him who does wish 10
discriminate.
ESSAYS and TALES, having ia view utility ~
aniusc meat, or both. -HisTostcAL SwsreaEs,-
and RestSiscEscSs Of evenls too minute for
History, yet Calculating IL, and heightcning il.
interes, may be regarded as forming the staple
OF the work. And OF indigenous PoEray, enough
is published - sometimes Of no mean strain--to
manifest and TO cultivate the growing poetical
taste and talents Of our country.
| The times appear, for several reasons, 30 de.
mand such work and not one alone, but many.
The public mind 10 fevcrish and irritated still.
from recent political strifes THE soft, assua.
sive influence OF Literature 10 needed, TO allay
that fever, aud sooihc that irritation. Vice and
folly arc rioting abroad They should be dri.
ven by indignant rebnhe, or lashed by ridicalc,
into their fitting baunts. Ignorance lords II over
an immence proportion Of our people - Every
spring should be set In motion, TO arouse the On.
lightened, and to Increase their number; 30 that
the great enemy Of popular government may
no longer brood, like = portentious cloud. over
the destipies OF onr country. And 20 accomplish
all these ends, what more powerful agent can
be employed, than a periodical. on the plan Of
the Messenger II that plan be but carried out
70 practice
The SourH, peculiarly. requires such an agent.
In all the Union, south OF Washington, there
are but two Literary periodicals Northwsrd
Of that city, there are probably at ieas, twenty
| five or thirty IL this contrast justified by the
wealth, the leisure, the native talent or the nc.
tual literary taste Of the Southern people, COM
pared with those OF the Northernf No; for in
l wealth, talents, and taste, we may Justly claim
domestic institution exclusively our own. be yond
all doubt affords u.s. IL we choose, twice the lei.
sure for reading and writing which they enjoy.
II was from deep sense Of this local want
that the word SOUTHERN was engrnfted on the
name Of this period icai and not with any dc
sign TO nourish local prejudices. or TO advocate
supposed local interests. Far from any such
thought, il is the Editors fcrvept wish, 10 sec
the North and South bound endcnringly together
forever, in the silken bands of mutual kindocs,
and affection. Far from medita,ing hostility 10
the north, he has already drawn, and he hopes
hereafter TO draw, much Of bis choiscst matter
thence and happy indeed will he deem him.
self. should his pages, BY making each region
know the other better, contribute IN noy essen
uai degree 70 dispei tho laweri~g ciouis that
now threaten the peace OF both, and Ia brighten
and strengthen the sacred ties OF fraternal love.
i The SoUTHERN LITERARY MEssEseER has
now reached the fifth No. Of its third Volume. -
How far il h as acted out the ideas here uttered,
is no, Cor the Editor to say. lie believes, how.
ever, that il falls not further short Of them, than
human weakness usually makes Practice fall
| CONDITIONS.
The Messenger Is issued monthly. Each mum
Der Of the work contains q large super al
pages, printed in the very handsomcst manner.
on new type, and on paper equal at least TO that
on which any other periodical ~ printed 10 our
country. No subscription will be received for
less than Volume. aud must commence with
the current one. The price Is s. per Volume,
which must be laid in all cases at the iimc oil
subscribing. This is particularly advened to
nov, 10 avoid misapprehension, or future misun.
ders ianding-as no order will here after DO At.
tended TO unless accompanied with the price Of
subscription.
| The postage on the Messenger 10 afr cents on
any single No for all distances under 100 miles
lover 100 miles, ten cents.
GurAll communication, or letters, relative 10
the Messenger, must be addressed 10 4" THOMAS
w. Wars. Southern Literary Messsngv or
flee, Richmond, Va"
June IL, 1887.