The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-22
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER

.. THOMAS W. WHITE. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
| TT,HIs IS MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
L chiefly TO literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope of Sciences and not
protesting entire disdan Of tasteful Selections though
its matter has BEEN it will continue be- in the man
original.
Party politics and controversial theology, as far as pos
sible, jealousy excluded. They are sometimes so
blended with discussions in literature in moral science
otherwise unobectionabe gain admittance for the
sake Of the valuable matter to which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only
primary. They dross, tolerated only because
not well be severed from the sterling wherewth it
incorporated .#. E~
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work. and it is the editors aim that they should
have threeiod tendency-to convey in a condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reviewedto direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be read,-and
him against wasting time and money upon that large
Der, which merit only be burned In this age Of publ
cations that by fheir variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every undscrminating student, impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned, is one of
the most inestmable and indispensable Of auxaries,
him who does wish to discriminate
Essays and Tales having view utility amusement
or both,-Hstorcal Sketches-and "reminiscences of
events too minute for history yet Calculating it, and height
ening its be regarded forming the staple
OF the work And OF indigenous poetry, enough is pub
lished-somemes of no strain-to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poeca taste and talents of our
country.
The times appear for several reasons, demand such
work-and not alone, but many. The public mind
is feverish and irated still, from political strifes
y
aay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
riotng abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by rdicue, into their fitting haunts.
Ignorance lords il immense proportion Of
people Every spring should be set in notion to
the enlightened and increase their number that the
great enemy of popular government may longer brood,
like poentous cloud the destnies of country
And TO accomplish all these ends what more powerful
agent can be employed than periodical on the plan o.
the Messenger If that plan be but carried out in practice
The South, peculiarly requires such agent In all
the Union, south Of Washington there but two literary
periodicals Nohward Of that city, there probably
least twenty-five or thirty Is this contrast justified by
the wealth. the leisure the native talent, the actual
literary OF the Southern people, compared with those
of the Norhern3 No: for in wealth. talents, and taste,
may Justly claim at least equality with bre
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing which they enjoy.
from deep Of this local want, thft the
word SOUTHERN engraftcd the name<of this
periodical and with any design TO noursh local pre-
JUDGES, to advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought it is the editors feven wish the
North and South bound endearngly together forever
the silken bands of mutual kindness and affection Far
from meditating hostility to the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much Of his choicest
matter thence; apo happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages, by making each region know the other
better, contribute in any essential degree to dspel the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of BOTH and
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of fraterna
love. ,s-.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No of its third volume How far il has acted the
ideas here uttered, 1t is not for the editor say He
believes, however, that it falls further short OF them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
theory. ......
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number Of the
work contains Ga large superoya pages printed in the
very handsomest manner, new type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical Is
printed in our country.
No subscription will be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current The price is
S5 per volume which must be paid all al the time
Of subscribing This is particularly adverted to no" 10
avoid misrepresentation, future misundersanding-as
no order will hereafter he attended unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage on the Messenger is sir cents on any sin
gle No for all distances under 100 milosorer 100 miles
ten cents
All communications letters, relative to the Messen
nns, be addressed to THOMAS w. WHITE,
e'' southern literary Messenger Office Richmond, Va