The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-20
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER
THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PRoPRIE

THOMAS w. WHITE EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
Il chiefly TO literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope Of Sciences and
protesting entire dsdan OF tasteful selections though
its matter has been, as i will continue TO be, in the MAN,
0r'ginaE .,..,., .....;.,
sibe, jealously excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions literature moral science
otherwise understandable to gain admttance for the
sake of the valuable matter 10 which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only not
primary They dross, tolerated only because 1t
not well be severed from the sterling wherewith
incorporated
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and it is the editors aim that they should
have threefold tendency-to convey IN a condensed
fom such valuable truths interesting incidents AS are
embodied in the works reyiewed,to direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be read and 10
him against wasting time and money upon that large
Der, which merit only to be burned In this age OF publ
cations that by fher variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every undlscrimnating student, impartial
criticism, governed by the views just mentioned is Of
the most nestimabe and indispensable OF auxiares 10
him who does wish to discriminate
Essays and Tales, having in viewutility amusement
or both-Historical Sketches,--and "Reminiscences OF
events too minute for history yet Calculating H. and height
ening its interestingly be regarded as forming the staple
Of the work. And of Indigenous poetry, enough is pub
lished-sometimes Of mean sirainto manifest and 10
cultivate the growing poetcal taste and talents OF our
country.
The times appear for several reasons, demand such
work-and not alone, but many. The public m'Ih
Is everlsh and lrTitated still, IRON recent political sS
The Soft assuasive influence of literature is needed to
aay that fever and soohe that irritation Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by dicule into their fitting hanDS
Ignorance lords il immense proportion OF our
people. Every spring should be set IN notion TO arouse
the enlightened and to increase their NUMBER so that the
great enemy Of popular government may longer broo
like portentous cloud, the destinies of country
And TO accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent be employed than periodical, the plan
the Messenger; if that plan be but carried out in pac
the Union south of Washington, there are but two literary
periodicals Northward 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 whthose
Of the Norhern No: for in wealth, talents, and taste,
We may justly claim at least equality with our tc'
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords us il choose, twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
Ii was from deep sense OF this local want that me
word SOUTHERN was engraited on the name Of ths
periodical; and not with any design to nourish local pre-
JUDGES or TO advocate supposed local interests Far ron
any such thought il the editors fcrven wish 10 see me
North and South bound endearngy together forever IN
the slken hands Of mutual kindness and affection rag
from meditating hostility to the North, he has alrca
drawn and he hopes hereafter TO draw much Of his choicest
matter thence; ana happy indeed will he deem hnsch
should his pages by making each region know the o"
better contribute IN any essential degree TO dspc W
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of both ana
To brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of faeA
love.
fifth No Of its third volume How far has acted out .c
ideas here uttered il is not for the editor Ne
believes, however, that it falls further short o. them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number OF hF
work contains 81 large supcrroyal pages, printed IN me
very handsomcst manner, on type, and on payer
equal ut least To that which any other periodical
printed in our country.
No subscription will be received for less than nvolnc
and must commence with the current one. The pncr
IS per volume which be paid in ill cases at The n
Of subscribing This is particularly adverted 10 no"
avoid misapprehensinn or future MISUNDERSTANDING
order will hereafter he attended TO unless accompGn
with the price of subscription.
The postage the Messenger Is six cents on any Sn
gle No for all distances under 100 milesover 100 miles
ten cents
All communications letters, relative 10 the Mcsscn
ger, must be addressed 10 THoMAs w WHITE
Southern Literary Messenger Office Richmond Va