The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-19
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,

/ THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
chiefly to literature, but occasionally finding room
for articles that fall within the Of Science and not
protesting disdan selections though
its matter has been it will continue to be- in the main,
original
Party politics and controversial theology far pos
sible, jealously excluded They sometimes
blended with discussions literature moral science,
otherwise unobjectionabe to gain admtance for the
sake Of the valuable matter to which they adhere:
bu, whenever tina, happens they are only not
not well be severed from the sterling wherewth is
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
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reyewed-to direct the readers
attention books that deserve to be read,-and
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only to be burned In this Of publi
cations that by fheir variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every undscrminating student impartial
criticism governed by the views just is one OF
the most inestimable and indispensable of auxares to
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales having in utility amusement,
or both,-Hstorca Sketches-and "reminiscences of
events too minute for history Calculating it, and height
ening its Interestingly be regarded forming the staple
of the work And of indigenous poetry enough pub
shed-somemes of no mean strain-to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poeca taste and talents OF
country.
The times appear for several reasons, to demand such
a work-and alone, but many. The public mind
is feverish and nitated still from political srifes:
The soft, assuasve influence of literature is needed to
aay that fever, and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by ridicue into their fitting haunts.
Ignorance lords 1t immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in notion to arouse
the enlightened and their number that the
great enemy of popular government may no longer brood,
like portentous cloud the destnes Of country
And to accomplish all these ends, what powerful
agent be employed than periodical the plan
the Messenger if that plan be but carried out in practice
The South peculiarly, requires such an agent In all
the Union south Of Washington there but two literary
NJ r.ty at
least twenty five thirty Is this contrast justified by
the wealth, the leisure the native talent, the actual
of the Northern No for in wealth. talents and taste,
may Justly claim at least equality with our bre-
thren and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords If choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy
1t was from deep Of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN engrafted the name OF this
periodicals. and not with any design to noursh local pre-
JUDGES TO advocate supposed local interests Ear IRON
such thought the editors fevent wish 10 see the
North and South bound endearngy together forever in
the silken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medating hostility the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much Of his choicest
matter thence; and happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know the other
better contribute in any essential degree TO dispe the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace OF both and
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF fraerna
! love. ..
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached the
fifth No OF its third volume How far il has acted out the
ideas here uttered not o1 me sdo. h TO say bs% e
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short o.
| theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number Of the
work contains g. large superoyal pages printed in the
very handsomest manner new type, and on paper
equal at least that which any other periodical is
printed in country.
No subscription will he received for less than volume
and must with the current one. The puce IS
as per volume which must be paid in all cases at the time
Of subscribing This is particularly advered to no" TO
avoid Misrepresentation, future mIsundersandlhe-as
no order will hereafter he attended to unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription
The postage on the Messenger is six cents on any sln
gle No for all distances under lOomiles-over ioo mS
| ten cents. 49,.
An communications letters, relative to The Messen
GER must he addressed 10 THOMAS w. :" MI h.