The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-07-07
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
- THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR

. w.
r1HIS rs A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
chiefly literature, but occasionally finding room
E sei- ..a f.I .vi'hin tho scope Of Science and not
PROCESSING an entire dlsdan Of tasteful selections though
its matter has been, it win continue be- the main,
original
sibe, are Jealoasly excluded They sometimes SO
blended with discussions in literature or in moral science
otherwise anobjeciionable, to gain admance for the
sake Of the valuable matter which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they incidental only
primary They dross tolerated only because il can
not well be severed from the sterling Mhere~ith it is
Incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and il is the editors aim that they should
have threelold tendeney--to convey in condensed
FORM such valuable truths interesting incidents MS are
embodied in the works reyiewedto direct the readers
attention to books that deserve be land
him against wasting time and money upon that large
Der, W ch merit only to be burned In this age Of puh
cations, that by ther variety and multitude distract and
overnhelm every, nndiscrimnatng STUDENT. impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned Of
the most inestmabe and indispensable Of auxiares,
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having view utility amusement,
or both-Historicai Sketches,-and "reminiscences Of
events too minute for history calculating it, and height
enng its interest," be regarded forming the staple
OF the work. And Of indigenous poetry enough is pub
shcd--sometimes Of stran-to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetica taste and talents Of
country.
The times appear several reasons to demand such
work-and not one alone, but many The public mind
is feversh and rrated STILL from political s,cs
The sot, assnasive influence Of literature is needed
alay that fever and soohe that irritation Vice and folly
riong abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, or dashed by rdicule into their fitting haunts.
Ignorance lords 1t over immense proportion Of
people Every spring should be set in notion TO arouse
the enlightened and increase their number that the
ike porenous cloud over the des,nies Of our country
And TO accomplish all these ends, what powerful
agent can be employed than periodical, the plan
the Messenger il that plan be but carried in practice
The South, peculiarly, requires such In all
the Union, south Of Washington there but literary
periodicals Norhward Of that city, there probably at
enst twenty-five thirty Is this justified by
the wealth. the leisure the native talent or the actual
literary taste Of the Southern people, compared those
OF the Northern No: for in wealth, talents, and taste,
we may Justly claim at least equality with bre
thren; and domestic institution exclusively own,
beyond all doubt affords U.S. choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
II from deep sense Of this local want that the
word SOUTHERN was engraftcd on the Of this
periodical and not with any design to nourish local pre-
JUDGES, advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought is the editors ervent wish the
North and South bound cndcarigly together
the silken hands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from mcdi,ating hostility to the North he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much Of his choicest
matter thence ano happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages, by making each region know the other
better contribute any essential degree 10 dspel the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of both, and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of fraiernal
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached the
fifth No OF third volume How far has acted the
ideas here uttered il is not for the editor TO He
believes however that it falls further short Of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short o.
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number Of the
work contains 81 large superroya pages printed in the
very handsomest manner, type and on paper
equal least that which any Other periodical is
printed in country.
No subscription win he received for less than volume,
and must commence with the The price is
SIS per volume which must he paid in all cases al the time
Of subscribing This is particularly ad'cued to now to
avoid misaprrehension or future msunderstandnp-as
no order will hcreaer lie attended to unless accompanied
with the price OF subscription.
The hostage On the Messenger is six cents any sin
gle No for all distances under 100 mcsoyeI 100 miles
ten cents. ..H =,
All communications or letters relative to the Messen
"a, r,net bo addressed TO THOMAS w. WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va