The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-03-27
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGERS
THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND pEopRlEroE.

THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR,
/ THIS IS A MONTHLY MAGAZINE drynrI
chiefly TO literature, bat occasionally finding tt'r
for articles that fall within the scope OF Science Ind
protesting entire dsdain of tasteful selections. though
It's matter has been as 1t will continue to be- IN the
original.
Party politics and controversial theology far pos
sbie leaouslv excluded. They are sometimes
blended with discussions in literature in moral sccnr.
otherwise unobJeconable, to gam aduitiancc for Nc
sake OF the valuable matter TO which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they incidental only
primary They dross, tolerated only because II
not well be severed from the sterling whcrewh Il
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due ss@oe
in the work and it is the editors that they slo
have a threeioid tcndency-to convey in comG"n>
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied IN the works reyiewed,-to direct thr r'HJh
attention 10 books that deserve to be rcadand 10 Ma
hun against wasting time and money upon that large nl
Der, which merit only to be burned. In this aye Of f.
cations, that by tner variety and multitude distract q
oyer"hem every 1ndlscnmnatlng student, lmiaEh'.
criticism, governed blythe views Just mentioned = o'
the most nestirnahe and indispensable Of auXArleS, ~
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in viewutljty amusement
or both -Historical Skctches,-and "reminiscences
events too minute for history, yet calculating IT, and he %
enlng its nterest,fnay he regarded forming the STA.
OF the work. And of Indigenous poetry enough Is pu
llShcd-sometimes OF mean stralnto manifest "lG ~
cultivate the growing poetical taste and talents " gag"
country.
The times appear, for several reasons demand sar
work--and not one alone. but many The puA.r MOOD
is ieveriSh and irritaod s,i from political sr
The soft, assuasive influence OF literature IS needrd'
alay that fever and soo,he that irritation Wee and i"F
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rcbukc, dashed by ridcue, into their htng hauh'$
Ignorance lords it All immense proportion oil oNr
people Every spring should be set IN notion TO nrou'c
the cngtened and 10 increase their number that the
great enemy popular government may no longer brood,
like porentous cloud the dcsnles of our country
And to accomplish all these ends what more powcr@l
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 an agent N at
the Union. south Of Washington there are but two literary
periodicals Norhward Of that city, there are probably at
least twenty-five or thirty Is this contrast justified N
the wealth, the leisure. the native talent, or the ac
literary Of the Southern people compared IT'D those
OF the Northern No: for in wealth. talents and taste,
may Justly claim at least equality with our tire,
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our OWN,
beyond all doubt affords us il choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing which they enjoy.
1t was from deep sense of this LEGAL want, that tie
word SOUTHERN engrahed the name Of tI,s
periodical and with any design 10 noursh local pro-
JUDGES, advocate supposed local interests Far FROM
any such thought il is the editors erycnt wish 70 see @
North and South bound erdearngIy together forever r"
the Silkcn bands OF mutual kindness and affection f
from meditating hostility to the North, he has ALREADY
drawn and he hopes hereatcrlo much OF his cho'
matter thence ana happy lndecn WIZ nc deem hIm'C''
should his pages hy making each region know the o'r
better contribute in any essential degree to dspcl tie
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of both. and
10 brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of fratcra
love. -. ......
mn No ofits third volume. How far il has acted out live
ideas here uttered It IS not for the editor 10 say H.
believes however that il falls further short OF tu
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short o
theory
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number Of IN"
work contains Ga large supcrroyal pages printed TIA"
very handsomes manner, type, and on paper
equal at least TO that which any Other periodical is
printed III our country.
No subscription In he received for less than volume
and must commence with the current The price -
SIS per vo'mc which must he paid m all cnsesa the um"
Of subscribing Thus particularly adyorted TO now I"
avoid msapprchcosun, fut!rc misunderstanding as
no order will hereafter hc attended TO unless accompan
with the price Of subscription
The postage on the Messenger is six cents any
gle No for all distances under 100 mcs-oycr 100 ugc"
ten cents
An communications or letters relative to tho NcsssN
GER must he addressed 10 THOMAS w NHiTt.
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond Va