The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-27
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER

THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR PROPRIETOR
THIS is MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
| i chiefly 10 literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope OF Science and
protesting entire disdan Of tasteful Selections though
its matter has been as will continue TO be- in the main,
original
sble jealousy excluded. They sometimes so
blended with discussions literature moral science
otherwise unobeconabe as to gain admittance for the
sake of the valuable matter TO which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only not
primary They dross, tolerated only because it
well be severed from the sterling ore wherewih is
incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and it is the editors aim that they should
have threefod tendency--to convey condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied IN the works reyiewedto direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be read,and
HIM against wasting time and money upon that large
Der, which merit only TO be burned In this age publ
cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every Understanding student impartial
CRITICISM governed by the views just mentioned OF
the most inestmable and indispensable Of auxares
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility amusement
or bo,h,-Hstorca Sketches-and "reminiscences Of
events too minute for history yet calculating and height
ening its interest be regarded forming the staple
OF the work And Of indigenous poetry, enough is pub
lshed-sometmes Of mean strain--to manifest and
cultivate the growing poetca taste and talents OF our
country.
work-and not one alone, but many. The public mind
is fcyerish and tated still from recent political strifes:
The soft, assuasve influence of literature is needed 10
alay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
are riong abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by ridcue, their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords II over an immense proportion o. our
the enlightened and increase their numbers that the
great enemy OF popular government may no longer BROOD
like porentous cloud, the destinies of country
And accomplish all these ends, what powerful
agent be employed than periodical the plan
the Messenger if that plan be but carried in practice
The South, peculiarly, requires such agent In all
the Union, south Of Washington there but literary
periodicals Northward OF that city, there are probably
least twenty-five thirty Is this 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,
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords il choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
Ii was from deep OF this local want that the
word SOUTHERN was engrafted on the name Of this
periodical and with any design noursh local pre-
judices to advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought the editors fevent wish the
North and South bound endearngy together forever in
the sken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medaiing hostility 10 The North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much Of his choicest
matter thence; happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages, by making each region know the other
better contribute in any essential degree to dspel the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace OF BOTH and
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of atcrnal
love.
fifth No OF its third volume How far il has acted out the
ideas here uttered it not for the editor TO say He
believes however, that 1t 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 O. large superroyal pages printed in the
very handsomest manner, on new type, and paper
equal al least TO that which any otber periodical is
printed in country.
No subscription will be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current The price is
S. per volume, which be paid in all the time
Of subscribing This is particularly advcred TO to
avoid Misrepresentation. or future msundcrsiandngas
attended
with the price OF subscription.
The postage on the Messenger is six any sin
gle No for all distances under l00mes-over 100 miles
ten cents.
All communications or letters relative TO the Messen
GER must be addressed to THOMAS w. WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va