The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-03-24
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER
THOMAS W. WHITE EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR

THOMAS w. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
! THIS IS A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
| i chiefly literature, but occasionally finding
for articles fall within the scope of Science and
protesting entire disdan of tasteful selections though
MS matter has been rs will continue to be- III the man,
original.
Party politics and controversial theology far pos
sble, are jealousy excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science
otherwise unobeconabe, to gain admttance for the
sake Of the valuable matter TO which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only
primary. They dross, tolerated only because it
well be severed from the sterling wheewlth II IS
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and the editors that they should
have threeiold eadency--to convey IN a condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied In the works reviewedo direct the readers
attention to books that deserve TO be readand 10
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only to he burned In this age of publ
cations that by te variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every Understanding student impartial
criticism, governed by the views just mentioned is OF
the nestimabe and indispensable of auxiaries, TO
him who does wish TO discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility or amusement,
both,-Hlstorical Sketches,-and "reminiscences OF
minute for history yet Calculating IT, and height
ening It's interestingly be regarded forming the staple
of the work And OF indigenous poetry, enough is Pu@-
lishcdsometimes OF mean stranto manifest and 10
cultivate the growing poetical taste and talents OF our
country.
The times appear for several reasons, demand such
| a work-and not alone, but many. The pubic mind
is icverish and inltaed st from recent political strleS
The soft, assuasiye influence of literature is needed TO
aay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by ridcue, into their hng hauhs.
ignorance lords il immense proportion Oh our
people Every spring should be set in notion TO arouse
the enlightened and increase their number so that the
enemy OF popular government may no longer Drood,
like porentous cloud over the desnies OF our country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent can be employed than PERIODICAL on the plan o.
the Messenger il that plan be but carried out IN practice
The South peculiarly requires such an agent In all
NJ therpa I'm tyol tpn
periodicals Norhward 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,
may justly claim a, least equality with our bre-
thron: and domestic institution exclusively own,
beyond all doubt affords il choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
II was from deep sense OF this local want that the
word SOUTHERN was engrafed on the name OF this
periodical and not with any design TO noursh Local pre-
JUDGES advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought 1t s the editors ervcnt wish 10 Sc" the
North and South bound cudcarngy together forever IN
the sken bands Of mutual Kindness and affection Far
from meditarg hostility to the North he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter 70 draw" much OF his choicest
matter thence; ana happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know the other
better contribute in any essential degree 10 dspcl the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace OF both, and
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF iraternal
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached the
f6b No Of It's third volume. How far il has acted the
IDEAS here uttered, il is not for the editor say He
beevcs however that it falls not further short Of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
theory. ... .s
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number Of the
work contains "a large superroya pages, printed in the
very handsomest manner, new type, and on paper
equal Mt least to that which any other periodical is
printed in our country.
No subscription viii he received for less than volume
and commence with the current one The pncc ~
IS per volume which must be paid in al cases nj the tune
Of Subscribing This is particularly advced TO now TO
avoid Misrepresentation, future mlStnderSandng-as
no order will hereafter nc attended TO unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage on the Messenger six cents on any SIN
sic No pr an distances under 100 mes-over 100 miles
cents. .. n. .
an communications or letters relative 10 the Messcn
ycr INNS, he o1dr csscd 10 THOMAS w WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond Va