The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-13
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER

THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
T,HIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly TO literature, but occasionally finding room
for articles that fall within the scope of Science and
protesting entire disdan of tasteful selections though
It's matter has been, it will continue TO be- in the MAN,
original
Party politics and controversial theology AS far as pos
sible, jealouslv excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature in moral science
otherwise unobecuonabe TO admittance for the
sake Of the valuable matter which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only not
not well be severed from the sterling wherewth it
incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and the editors aim that they should
have threefold tendency-to convey in condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reyewed,-to direct the readers
attention TO books that deserve to be read and to
him against wasting time and money upon that large
Der, which merit only to be burned la this age of publ
cations, that by eir variety and multitude distract and
oyerwhelm every undiscriminating student, impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned, of
the most inestmable and indispensable Of auxilares
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility amusement,
or both,-Historca Sketches,-and "reminiscences OF
events too minute for history yet calculating it, and height
ening its interesting be regarded forming the staple
OF the work And OF indigenous poetry enough is pub.
hshed-somemes Of no mean stran-to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetical taste and talents Of our
country.
The times appear for several reasons to demand such
a work-and not one alone, but many. The public mind
is feversh and rrtated STILL from political sres
Inc soft, assuaslye influence OF
alay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
riotng abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by rdcue, into their fitting haunls
Ignorance lords it immense proportion OF our
people. Every spring should be in motion,
the enlightened and increase their numbers so that the
great enemy Of popular may no longer brood
like porentous cloud the desnies Of our country
And to accomplish all these ends what more powerful
agent can be employed than periodical, on the plan O.
the Messenger if 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
periodicals Norhward OF that city, there probably at
least twenty-five thirty Is this contrast justified by
the wealth, the leisure the native talent, the actual
literary taste of the Southern people, compared with
of the Northern? No: for in wealth. talents and taste
we may Justly claim at least equality with our br
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords il We choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing which they enjoy.
IL was from deep OF this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN engrahed the name OF thus
periodical and not with any design to nourish local pre-
JUDGES, TO advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought il is the editors ervent wish 10 see The
North and South bound endearngly together forever IN
the sken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medltating hostility to the North he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter to 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 me
TO brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of faterna
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No OF its third volume How far has acted the
IDEAS here uttered il is for the editor TO say lie
believes however that falls further short of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short C.
theory
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number OF the
work contains Ga large superroya pages printed the
very handsomest manner type and paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical IS
printed in our country.
No subscription will be received for less than avolumc
and must commence with the current one The price
IS per volume, which be paid in all at the tine
Of subscribing This is particularly adyered 10 now 10
avoid misrepresentation, or future Misunderstanding
order will hereafter he attended to unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription
The postage on the Messenger is six cents on any SIN
gle No for all distances under 100 mesoyer 100 miles
ten cents.
All communications or letters, relative the Mcsstn
ger, must be addressed 10 Thomas w. WHITE
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va