Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-07-19
ROSPECTUS
OF THE
Southern Literary Messenger.
THOMAS w. WHITE.
Editor and Proprietor.

i THIS IS monthly Magazine, devoted chiefly
10 Literature, but occasionally finding room
also for articles that fall within the scope Of Sci
ence and not protesting entire disdan Of
tasteful selections, though its matter has been, as
1t viii continue to be, in the main, original.
Pdrty Politics and controversial theology. as
lar as possible, are jealousy excluded They
are sometimes so blended with discussions in lite
nature or IN moral Sciences otherwise unobjec.
uonable, as to gain admittance for the sake of
the more valuable matter to which they adhere :
out whenever that happens, they are incidental
only /; not primary. They are dross, tolerated
only because II cannot well be severed from the
sterling ore wherewith it is Incorporated
| REVIEWS and CRITICAL NOTICES. occupy their
due space m the work and il is the Editors
ann that they should have a thrcefold tendency
to convey, in condensed form, such valuable
truths or interesting incidents as are embodied
IN the works reviewed,-to direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be read, and
to 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 and multitude distract and over.
wheim every Understanding student impartial
criticism, governed by the views lust mention
ed, is one OF the most inestmable and indispen
sable OF auxiliaries, to HIM who does wish 10
discriminate.
ESSAYS and TALES, having in view utility or
amuse ment, or both ,--HIsToRIoAL SKETcHEs.-l
and REMINIscENcEs of events too minute for
History, yet calculating il, and heightening IFS
lnterest,-may be regarded forming the staple |
OF the work And of indigenous PoETRY, enough |
rs published -sometimes Of no mean strain-to
manifest and TO cultivate the growing poetieal
taste and talents of our country.
The times appear, for several reasons, TO de-
mand such work-and not one alone but many.
! he public mind is feverish and irritated still.
IRON recent political strifes The soft assua-
slve influence of Literature is needed. to allav
that fever, and soothe that irritation. Vice and
ioiy are rioting abroad They should be dri-
ven by indignant rebuke, or dashed by ridicule
INTO their fitting haunts. Ignorance lords il over
an lmmence proportion OF our people Every
spring should be set in motion, 10 arouse the en-.
lghtened, and to increase their number: so that
the great enemy OF popular government NAV
no longer brood, like a portentious cloud, over
we destinles OF our country. And 10 accomplish
All these ends, what more powerful agent can
be employed, than periodical, on the plan Of
the Messenger; if that plan be but carried out
In practice I?
The Souri, peculiarly, requires such an agent.
In all the Union, south Of Washington there
are but two Literary periodicals Northwvrd
OF that CITY, there are probably at least twenty |
hVe or thirty Is this CONT justified by III q
wealth, the leisure, the native talent, or the ac.
tual literary taste Of the Southern people, com !
pared with those of the Northern? No +: for in |
wealth, talents, and taste, we may Justly claim
at least an equality with our brethren and a
domestic institution exclusively our own beyond
all doubt affords us, if we choose twice the lei
sure for reading and writing which they enjoy
1t was from deep sense Of this local want
that the word SOUTHERN was engrafted on the
name OF this periodical and not with any de.
sign TO nourIsh local prejudices, or TO advocate
supposed local interests. Far from any such
thought, II is the Editors feryent wish 10 see
inc North and South bound endearingly together
forever, IN the slken bands of mutual Kindness
and affection. Far from meditating hostilifu TO
The north, he has already drawn, and he homes
hereafter to draw, much Of his choisest matter
thence and happy indeed will he deem him
sell should his pages, by making each region
know the other better, contribute in any essen.
hal degree to dispel the lowering clouds that
now threaten the peace Of both, and To brighten
and strengthen the sacred ties Of fraternal love
The SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER has
now reached the fifth No. ofits third Volume
How far IT has acted out the IDEAS here uttered
Is not for the Editor to say. He believes, how
ever, that it falls not further short of them than
human weakness usually makes Practice fall
short OF Theory.
CONDITIONS.
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each nur,-
Der of the work contains Ga large super. ROYAL
pages, printed IN the very handsomest manner
on new type, and on paper equal at least TO that
on which any other periodical is printed in cur
country No subscription will be received for
less than Volume, and must commence Win
the current one. The price is S5 per Volume
winch must be paid in all cases at the time Of
subscribing. This is particularly adyerted N
now, 10 avoid Misrepresentation, or future misun-
derslandmg-as no order will hereafter be at
subscription. r0~ "
The postage on the Messenger is SIR cents on
any single No for all distances under 100 miles
over 100 miles, ten cents.
) Us.AIl communication, or letters, relative 10
the Messenger, must be addressed 10 /" Thomas
flee, Richmond, "a"
June ID, 1887.