Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-05-15
PROSpECTUS
OF THE
snuTHERNLITERARY MESSENGER.
Tno.IAs ]. WmTa. EdiIor ana F50pIieto1T..

TnoMAs j. wmrn, Editor and Proprietor.
YWyffTs il monthly Magazines devoted
chiefly to Literatwe, but occasionally
finding room also for articles that tail Witnln
the scope Of Science; ana not processing an
s.tfre d;sdain 81 tasteful selections, though It's /
matter has been, as VIII continue TO be- n tle |
main, original.
partv Politics and controversial Theology, |
AZ far as possible, are jealousy excluded.
They are sometimes SO blended with discus
siOns in literature or IN moral science, otnerWlse
understandable, as to gain admttance LOT the
eake offhe more valuable matter TO winch they
adhere. but whenever that happens, they are
| incidental only; not primary. They are GROSS
/ Tolerated only because it cannot wen be severed
from the sterling ore wherewithlt Is mcoFPora-
/ ted.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their
due space IN the work; and II is the Editors
| aim that they should have athreefold tendency
/ Ito convey, IN condensed iorIns snch valuable
truths or interesting incidents as are embodied
IN the works reyieWed,-to direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be read
and to warn him against wasting time ana mon
ey upon that large number, winch merit only 70
be burned. In this age, of publications that by
/ their variety and multitude distract and over
whelm every Understanding student, IMPAIR
tial criticism, governed by the views Just men
toned, is one Of the most nestimable and lndls-
pensable Ofauxiliaries, TO him who does wish to
discriminate,
ESSAYS. and Tales, having in view utility or
amusement. or BOTH historical Sketches-and
"reminiscences ofeVents too minute for History,
vet calculating it and heightening its interests,
may be regarded as forming the staple of the
work And Of Indigenous Poetry, enough is
; published sometimes of no mean straiT-tO
manifest and to cultivate the growing political
taste and talents ofour country.
The times appear, for several reasons, to de-
manG such work and not one alone, but ma
, ny. The public mind is feverish and RrItated
still fromrecen political strifes: The soft as
suasive influence of Literature Is needed, to al
lay that fever and soothe that irritation, Vice
and folly are rioting abroad: they should be
driven by indignant rebuze, or lasbed by Tidicule
, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance lords it
over animmense proportion Of our people. Ev-
cry spring should be set in motion, to arouse
: the enlightened, and to increase their number
so that the great enemy of popular govern
: nent may no longer brood, Ike a portentiOus
! cloud, over the destinies of our country. And
r to accomplish all these ends, what more pow
e erful agent can be employed, than periodical
e on the plan of the Messenger; if that plan be
: but carried out IN practice!
The South peculiarly requires such an
e agent. In all the Union, south of Washington,
there are but two Literary periodicals. North
u ward ofthat city, there are probably at least
twenty-five or thirty Is this contrast iusti-
: fed by the wealth, the leisure, the native tai
I ent, or the actual literary taste, ofthe Southern
people, compared with those ofthe Northern
No: for in wealth, talents and taste, we may
y justly claim at least an equality with our breth-
rem; and domestic institution exclusively our
: own, beyond all doubt, affords us, five choose,
twice the leisure for reading and writing,
+ which they enjoy
: 1t was from a deep sense of tins local want,
J that the word Southern was engrafted on the
z name of this periodical; and not with any de-
Il sign to noursh local prejudices, or to advocate
supposed local interests. Far from any such
i thought, it is the Editors fervent wish to see
/ the North and South bound endearingly to-
gether forever in the silken bands of mutual
u kindness and affection. Far from meditating
7 hostility to the North, he has already drawn,
8 and he hopes therefore to draw much of his
q choicest matter thence and happy indeed viii
he deem himself should his pages by making
each region know itself better, contribute in
any essential degree To diSpel the lowering
clouds that now threaten the peace Of both. and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF
frateEllal love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now
reached the llth No Of the third volume
How Tar Il has acted cut the IDEAS here uttered
Is not for the EaSeo< 60 say. He believes. how
ever, that Il aIS MT further short az them than
. human weakness usually makes Practice an
short Of Theory.
CONDITIONS.
q l. The Southern Literary Messenger Is pub
lished IN monthly numbers, Of g. large super
royal octave pages each. on the best papeE.
! and neatly covered, at dollars a year, paya-
bic IN advance.
2. Or five new subscribers by sending their
4 names and 20 dollars at one time to the editor,
will receive their copies for one year, for that
sum, or at dollars EACH
8. The risk of loss ofpayments for subscrip-
tons, which have been properly committed to
the mail or to the hands of postmaster, is as
sUned by the editor.
4 Ha subscription Is not directed to be dis
continued before the first number of the next
volume has been published it win be taken as
: a continuance for another year. Subscriptions
D must commence with the beginning of the vol
ume, and win not be taken for less than
: years publication.
: 3. The mutual obligations of the publisher
and subscriber, for the year, are fully incurred
as soon as the first number of the Volumei Is Is
sued; and after that time, no discontinuance of
a subscription VIII be permitted. Nor evil a
: transcription be discontinued for any earlier
; notice, while any thing thereon remains due.
unless at the option of the editor.
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