The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-08
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER
THOMAS W. WHITE. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

THOMAS w. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
for articles that fall within the scope OF Science and not
protesting entire disdan of tasteful seieo though
original. ,y,l" ~. ..3 .@a...
Party politics and controversial theology far pos
sible jealously excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science
otherwise unobeconabe to gain admlttance for the
sake of the valuable matter which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they incidental only no,
primary They dross, tolerated only because it
not well be severed from the sterling ore wherewh it
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 condensed
FORM such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works revewedto direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be read TO
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only be burned In this age OF publ
cations that by fhe variety and multitude distract and
overwhem every undlscriminating student, impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned one OF
the most nestimabe and indispensable Of auxiares TO
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility or amusement
or both,-Historical Sketches,-and "reminiscences OF
minute for history yet calculating it, and height
enng its interest," be regarded forming the staple
Of the work. And Of Indigenous poetry, enough is pub
ished-sometimes of stran-to manifest and TO
cultivate the growing poetical taste and talents Of our
country
The times appear for several reasons, demand such
a work-and not alone, but many. The public mind
is feversh and irritaed STILL from political strfes
The soft assuasive influence Of literature is needed, to
alay that fever and soohe that irritation Vice and folly
are roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke dashed by ridcue, into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords il over an immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in motion, to arouse
the enlightened and increase their number that the
great enemy of popular government may longer brood
ike portentous cloud, the destnes Of country
And TO accomplish all these ends, what powerful
agent can be employed than periodical, the plan
the Messenger 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
If nlah
least twentyhy 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 our bre
hren and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords il choose, twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
1t from deep Of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN engrahed the name Of this
periodical and with any design to nourish local
JUDGES, TO advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought is the editors fevent wish the
North and South bound endearngy together forever,
the silken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from meditating hostility to the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes draw much his choicest
matter thence ana happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages ey making each region know the 9hc1
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of both, and
10 brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of fraicrna
love. ."r'
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No OF its third volume How far has acted out the
ideas here uttered it is not for the editor TO He
believes however, that il falls not further short OF them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short o.
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number OF the
work contains 6f large superroya pages printed in The
very hsndsomest manner, on new type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical IL
printed in country.
No subscription will be received for less than volume
and mus, commence with the current one The price
SIS per volume which must be paid in al cases al the tmc
OF subscribing This is particularly adrced to no" !"
avoid misapprehcnsion, future msnnderstandng-Hs
no order will hereafter he attended to unless accompanies
with the price Of subscription. ... =:
The postage the Messenger is six cents on any s,
gle No for all distances under lo0mes-over 'oo mics
ten cents. d.. =. A. A.,
An communications letters relative to the Messcn
ger. must be addressed to ihoNAs w w. Witt;
southern Literary Messenger Once Richmond, va