The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-29
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,


THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
chiefly to literature but occasionally finding room
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and not
protesting an entire dsdaln OF tasteful seeei,os nous"
its matter has BEEN will continue to be- IN the MAN.
Party politics and controversial theology as far as pos
sibe, jealously excluded They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science,
otherwise unobjectionahle gain admtance for the
but whenever that happens, they incidental only not
primary They dross tolerated only because il can
well be severed from the sterling wherewth is
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
embodied in the works reviewedto direct the readers
attention to books that deserve be read,and
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only TO be burned In this age OF publi
cations that by her variety and multitude distract and
overwhem every Understanding student impartial
criticism governed BY the views just mentioned is Of
the most nestmable and indispensable Of auxiaries, to
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales having in view utility or amusement
or both-Historieal sketches,-and "reminiscences Of
events too minute for history calculating it, and height
enng its interest may be regarded forming the staple
Of the work And Of Indigenous poetry, enough is pub
lished-sometimes of strain-o manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetca taste and talents of
country.
The times appear for several reasons to demand such
a work-and not alone, but many The public mind
is everish and Initiated STILL from political ses
The so assuasive 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 ndicule into their fitting haunts.
Ignorance lords it immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in notion to arouse
the enlightened and TO increase their numbers that the
great enemy OF popular government may no longer brood,
like porentous cloud the destnies of our country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent be employed than PERIODICAL on the plan o.
the Messenger If that plan be but carried out in practice
the Union south Of washington there are 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 or 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 bre
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords if we choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy
II from deep sense Of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN engrafed the name of this
periodicals. and not with any design to noursh local pre-
JUDGES to advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought il is the editors feent wish to the
North and South bound endearngy together forever, IN
the silken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from meditang hostility to the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much choicest
matter thence; happy indeed viii he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know the other
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of BOTH and
TO brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of fraerna
love.
fifth No Of its third volume How far II has acted out the
ideas here uttered il il not for the editor to saw He
believes however, that il 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 Ga large superroya pages, printed IN the
very handsomest manner, on new type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical Is
printed in country
No subscription win be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current one. The Prce rs
IS per volume which must be paid in all cases at the time
Of subscribing. This is particularly adverted TO now TO
avoid misapprehension future misundersandlng-ns
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 milcsover 100 miles
ten cents. ,
An communications or letters, relative 10 the Messen
ger, must be addressed TO THOMAS ", Wits,
southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va