The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-04-14
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS W. WHITE. EDITOR ANp fRornlEroR.

THOMAS w. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
| 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
protesting entire dsan of tasteful selections though
It's matter has been, 1t will continue to be, in the NAM
| original ..
Party politics and controversial theology as far as pos
sibc, jeaIouslv excluded They are sometimes
blended with discussions In literature moral SCIENCE
otherwise unobjectionablc gam admanoc for itc
sake of the valuable matter to which they adhfrr
but whenever that happens they incidental only not
primary They dross, tolerated only because i
not well be severed from the sterling whcrc~h Us
| incorporated
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and it the EDITORS that they s!d
have tRreefod tendcncy-to convey in cond,hs"d
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reviewcd,to direct the readers
attention TO books that deserve to be read, and to warn
him against wasting time and money upon that large
Der, which merit only TO be burned. In this OF pui,
cations, that by tncr variety and multitude distract aud
overwhclm every Understanding student, impartial
criticism governed by the mentioned, OF
the lnesmablc and indispensable OF auxlhanes, 10
! him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having view utility or amusement
or both,-Hisorical Skctches,-and "reminiscences OF
events too minute for history, yet eucidatng H. and tcE
enng its Interestingly he regarded as forming the staple
OF the work. And of Indigenous poetry enough is pub.
llshed-somctimes OF mean stran-to manifest and Ia
cultivate the growing poetical taste and talents 81 our
country
The times appear for several reasons demand such
a work-and not one alone, tn, many. The public mlrd
is eversh and iri,acd sili from political srtcs
The soft assuasive influence of literature IS needed 10
aay that fever and soohe that irritation. wee and toby
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by rldlcuc, into their hns hauhs
ignorance lords it immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should he set IN motion, to arouse
the enlightened and their numbers that the
great enemy OF popular government may no longer brood
like porentous cloud the destnics OF country
And to accomplish all these ends, what powerful
agent be employed than periodical on the plan O.,
the Messenger If that plan be but carried out IN pracc
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 are probably
east twenty-five thirty Is this contrast justified y
the wealth, tho leisure the native talent, the actual
literary taste Of the Southern people compared wit th"se
Of the Northern Mo- for in wealth talents, and taste,
may Justly claim at least equaliy with our brc-
hren; and domestic institution exclusively our 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 was ergrafed on the name Of this
periodical and with any design TO nourish local pre-
ndiccs or 10 advocate supposed local interests Far from
such thought is tho editors crycnt wish to see the
North and South bound cndcarngy together forever IN
the silkcn bands of mutual kindness and affection Far
from meditatng hostility I" the Norn, ne r mas aalrch'y
drawn and he hopes much Of his choicest
matter thence ann happy indeed will he deem himself,
should his pages by making each region know the Other
better contribute any essential degree 10 dspcl I'll"
owcrng clouds that threaten the peace of both au
TO brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of fratcna
love.
fifth No of third volume. How far 1t has acted The
IDEAS here uttered, il is not for the editor say He
believes however, that falls not further short Of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number Of Tic
work contains "a large superroya pages, printed the
very handsomest manner new type, and on paper
equal at least to that ON which any other periodical is
printed in country.
No subscription will he received for less than volume
and must commence with the current The puce is
S. per VOLUME, which be paid in all AT tho time
Of subscribing This is particularly ndvCrcd TO now 10
avoid misrepresentation future misnndcrstandnF--as
order III nj
with tho price Of subscription
The postage on the Messenger is six cents any
gle No for all distances under 100 mes-over 100 Ics
ton cents,
All communications or letters relative 10 tho Mcssrn
gcr must he addressed to THOMAS w WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond Va