The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-10-24
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly to literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and
processing entire dlsdan of tasteful selections though
lis matter has been, 1t Will continue to be- IN the
original.
Party politics and controversial theology, far MS pos,
sble, jealousy excluded, They sometimes
blended with discussions literature moral science
otherwise unobectonabe, to gain Abundance Tor
sake OF the more valuable matter to which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they incidental only
primary. They droSs, tolerated only because II
not well be severed from the sterling whcrcwh
Incorporated,
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and the EDITORS aim that they should
have throeoid tendcncy-to convey in a condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied IN the works revewed-o direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be .eadand 10
HIM against wasting time and money upon that arg" mum
Der, which merit only TO be burned In this publ
cations that by their variety and multitude and
ovcr"hclm every urdlscrminating student, impartial
criticism governed by the views Just mentioned, is Z"
the most nestlmable and Indispensable of auxares, 10
him who docs wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in vewuty or amusement,
or both,-iistorical Sketches,-and "reminiscences O,
events too minute for history yet Calculating IT, and height
cnng its Interestingly be regarded forming the staple
of the work. And of indigenous poetry enough pub.
lshcdsometlmes of mean stran-to manifest and 10
cultivate the growing poetlcal taste and talents OF our
country.
The appear for several reasons, demand such
work-and not one alone, but many. The pubic mlnd
cyerlsh and irritacd STILL from recent political sn"S
The soft assuasive influence OF literature is needed, 10
aay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
rotlng abroad They should be driven by indignant
rcbuke, dashed by fldcuc, INTO their fitting hauns
Ignorance lords it over immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in motion, 10 arouse
the enlightened and To increase their number so that the
great enemy of popular government may longer brood,
like portcntous cloud the destnes of county
And to accomplish all these ends, what powerful
agent be employed than periodical on the plan OF
the Messenger if that plan be but carried out practice
The South peculiarly, requires such agent In all
the Union south of Washington, there but two literary
periodicals. Northward OF that city, there probably NJ
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 "ih'oNe
OF the Northern No for in wealth, talents and taste,
may Justly claim at least equality with our ire
thren and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords if We choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they ENJOY,
1t was from deep OF this local want, that the
word SouTHERN Cngratcd the name Of this
periodicals. and not with any design to nourlsh local pre-
ludIces advocate supposed local interests Far irum
any such thought 1t is the editors crycnt wish 10 see the
North and South bound endearngly together forever IN
the slkcn bands OF mutual kindness and affection Far
from meiitatng hostility 10 the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter 10 draw, much OF his choicest
matter thence ana happy indeed Will he deem himself,
should his pages, 10y making each region know the Other
better contribute IN any essential degree to dlspol me
lowering clouds that threaten the peace of both, and
10 brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF iratcrnn
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached tic
fifth No olts third volume How far has acted ont the
ideas here uttered IT Is not for the editor to II"
believes however that il falls not further short Of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short +"
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number al the
work contains "a large supcrroyaF pages printed IN III"
very handsomcst manner, new type, aud on paper
equal least that on which any other periodical is
printed country.
No subscription viii Ic received for less than volume
and must commence with the current The pucc IS
s. per volume which lie paid IN all cases at the lam"
Of Subscribing This is particularly advertcd To now 10
avoid misrepresentation, future msnndersiandhR ~aS
no order will hereafter he attended To unless accompancd
with the pncc Of subscription
The postage on the Messenger is six cents on any sun
Gle No for all distances under 100 mcsovcr 100 miles,
len cents .
An communications or letters, relative 10 the M"sscn.
GER must he addressed 10 THow,s W, WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond Va