The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-10
E. PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,

THIS Is MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly to literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope OF Science and
protesting entire disdan of tasteful selections. though
It's matter has BEEN will continue to be- the man,
original. . .#. ..."
Party politics and controversial theology, far pos
slble, )ealously excluded. They are sometimes
blended with discussions in literature or in mora science
otherwise unobectonabe, to gain admii,ance for The
sake of the valuable matter which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they incidental only not
princry. They dross, tolerated only because
not well be severed from the sterling where"h It is
incorporated. .r ..,.
IN the work; and it is the editors aim that they should
have threeold tendency-to convey in 4 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 Of publ
cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every undlscriminatng student, impartial
criticism governed BY the views just mentioned IS one OF
the most inestimabe and indispensable of auxares, TO
him who does wish TO discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility or amusement,
or both,-Hstonca Sketches,-and "reminiscences OF
events too minute for history yet Calculating IT, and height
ening Its nteresmay be regarded forming the staple
OF the work And of Indigenous poetry enough Is pub
lshed-sometmes of no mean srain-to manifest and 10
cultivate the growing poetca taste and talents OF our
country.
The times appear for several reasons, demand such
work-and not one alone, but many. The public mind
is feversh and irrated still from recent political stres
The son, assuasye influence of literature is needed
aay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
rotng abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke dashed by ndicule into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords it over an immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in motion, to arouse
the enlightened and TO increase their number SO that the
Of popular government no longer brood
like portentous cloud the destines OF our country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent can be employed than periodical, the plan
the Messenger that plan be but carried practice
The South, peculiarly, requires such an agent. In all
the Union south Of Washington there but two literary
periodicals Northward of that city, there probably at
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 Mo- for in wealth, talents and taste,
we may justly claim at least equality with our bre-
thren and domestic institution exclusively
beyond all doubt affords us if choose, twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they ENJOY
was from deep sense Of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN was engrafted the name OF this
periodical and not with any design to noursh local pre-
JUDGES advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought the editors ervent wish 10 see the
North and South bound endeangy together forcver,ln
the sken bands Of mutual kindness and affection far
from meditatrg hostility TO the Morrill, he mas Already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much OF his choicest
matter thence; ana happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages, by making each region kno" he oer
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 fniernal
Tho Sou,bcrn Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No OF It's third volume How far has acted the
ideas here uttered is not for the editor TO say He
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
theory. .#,..
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number Of the
work contains Ga large superroya pages printed in the
very handsomesf manner, on new type, and on paper
equal AZ leas, to that which any other periodical IS
printed in country. aaa.
No subscription will be received for less than volume,
and must commence with the The price is
So per volume which be paid in all a, the time
of subscribing This is particularly adyered TO now to
avoid misapprehcnsion, future mlsunderStandng-as
order will hereafter he attended TO unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage the Messenger is six cents on any sin
gle No for all distances under 100 mesover 100 mlos
ten cents. ..
All communications or letters relative TO the Mcssen
GER must be addressed TO THOMAS w. WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond Va