The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-01-13
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS w. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

THOMAS w. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
J. chiefly TO literature but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and not
processing entire disdain of tasteful Selections though
its matter has been, it will continue to be, in the MAN,
original
Party politics and controversial theology far pos
sibe, 1ealously excluded They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science
otherwise understandable gain admttance for the
sake Of the valuable TO which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only
primary. They dross tolerated only because 1t
well be severed from the sterling wherewh it is
incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and it is the editors aim that they should
have threefod tendency--to convey in condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reviewedto direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be read,and TO warn
him against wasting time and money upon that large num-
ber which merit only to be burned In this age OF publ
cations that by her variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every Understanding student, impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned, is OF
the most inesmable and indispensable OF auxarles, to
him who does wish to discriminate,
Essays and Tales, having in vewu utility or amusement,
or both,-Hs,orca Sketches,-and "reminiscences of
events too minute for history yet Calculating IT, and height
ening its Interestingly be regarded forming the staple
Of the work And of Indigenous poetry enough is pub
lished-somemes of no mean stran-to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetical taste and talents OF our
country.
The appear, for several reasons, demand such
work--and not one alone, but many. The public mind
is fererish and rritaed still from recent political srfes
The soft, assuasive influence of literature is needed, TO
alay that fever, and soohe that irritation Vice and folly
rioting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by rdcue into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords il immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set IN motion, to arouse
the enlightened and TO increase their number so that the
great enemy of popular government may longer brood,
like porcntous cloud the destnes of our 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 an agent. IN all
the Union, south OF Washington there are but two literary
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 Of the Southern people, compared with those
Of the Northern Mo- for in wealth, talents and taste,
may Justly claim at least equality with our bre-
then; and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords u.s. If choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy
II was from deep OF this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN was engraitcd on the name OF this
periodical and not with any design to nourish local pre-
iudices advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought is the editors ervent wish TO see the
North and South bound cndearngy together forever IN
the slken bands Of mutual kindness and affection ar
from meditang hostility TO the Morrill, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter TO draw much 81 ms ehoces
matter thence ana happy indeed VIII nc uee. nSn,
better contribute in any essential degree to dspel the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace oil both ana
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties oil iraternai
love. !, =,
fifth No of third volume. How far 1t has acted out The
ideas here uttered it is not for the editor TO 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 superroya pages printed in the
very handsomest manner, type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical Is
printed in our country.
No subscription will he received for less than volume,
and must commence with the current one The prlce ~
SIS per volume which must be paid in al cases AT the tme
of subscribing This is particularly adyeed 70 no" 10
avoid misapprehension, future MISUNDERSTANDING
no order will hereafter be attended to unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The hostage on the Messenger Is SIX cents on any SIN
,lo Ne a. ali distances under 100 mlcs-oyer 100 miles
cents. :, &. A.,
49,. - - ressed IN THOMAS w WHITE,
90 Sonbcrn Literary Messenger Office, Richmond va