The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-29
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS w. WHITE. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

e.,
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly TO literature, but occasionally finding room
for articles that fall within the scope of Science and not
processing entire disdan OF tasteful selections though
It's matter has been as 1t VIII continue to be- IN the man,
original, aa,. =, ,,.,,,,x :. e,r = 10.
sble, are jealousy excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature in moral science
otherwise unobeconahe, to gain admittance for the
sake of the valuable matter to which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they incidental only no,
primary They dross, tolerated only because IL
well be severed from the sterling wherewth it
| incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and is the editors aim that they should
have threefold tendency-to convey in condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works revewedto direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be adand to
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only to be burned In this of publ
cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
overwhem every undiscriminatng student, impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned is one OF
the most nestimabe and indispensable Of auxaries to
HIM who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility amusement,
or both,-Historca Sketches,-and "reminiscences Of
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 mean srain-to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetca taste and talents of our
country.
The times appear for several reasons to demand such
work-and not one alone, but many. The public mind
is fevcrish and inated STILL from recent political strifes
The soft assuasve influence Of literature is needed,
are riong abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by rdicule into their fitting haunts.
Ignorance lords it over an immense proportion Of our
people Every spring should be set in motion,
the enlightened and to increase their NUMBER that the
great enemy OF popular government may no longer brood,
like potentous cloud the destnes Of country
And accomplish all these ends, what powerful
agent can be employed than periodical 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. Norhward Of that city, there probably
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 at least equality with bre.
thren; and domestic institution exclusively own,
beyond all doubt affords if we choose, twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy
1t from deep of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN engrafed the name OF this
periodical and not with any design TO noursh local pre-
udces to advocate supposed local interests Ear from
such thought il is the editors ervent wish TO see the
North and South bound endearngly together forever
the slken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from meditatng hostility to the North he has already
drawn he hopes hereafter to draw much Of his choicest
matter thence ana happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages by making each know the other
better contribute in any essential degree 10 dspel the
lowering clouds that now threaten the peace oil both ana
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of fatena
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No Of its third volume How far il has acted ont the
ideas here uttered il is not for the editor to say lie
believes however that it falls not 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, new type, and on paper
equal at least TO that which any other periodical IS
printed in country,
No subscription viii be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current one The price
SIS per volume which be paid in all cases at the time
Of subscribing This is particularly adveHed TO now 70
avoid misapprchension, future Observation-Disclosures
order will hereafter he attended TO unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage the Messenger is SIX cents on any sn
gle No for all distances under 100 mesoyer 100 miles
ten cents. =.
All communications letters relative to the Messen
cor n,,o, hc addressed 10 THOMAS w. WHITE.
- Southern Literary Messenger Office Richmond, Va