The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-05
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS W. WHITE. EDITOR AND PRoPRI

THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
chiefly to literature, but occasionally finding room
processing entire disdan OF tasteful selections though
its matter has been, it will continue to be- in the main
original ~.-'
Party politics and controversial theology far pos
sible, lealousv excluded They sometimes
blended With discussions in literature moral science,
otherwise nnobJectionahe to gain Abundance for the
sake of The valuable matter to which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only moi
primary They are dross. tolerated only because ii
not well he severed from the sterling wherewith It
incorporated
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work; and it is the editors aim that they should
have threefod tendency-to convey in condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reviewed,to direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be read,-and to
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only to be burned In this of publ
cations that by teir variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every Understanding student, impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned is Of
the most inestmable and indispensable of auxares to
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales having in viewutilty amusement,
or both,-Hstorical Sketches,-and "reminiscences Of
events too minute for history yet calculating it, and height
ening its Interestingly be regarded as forming the staple
of the work And Of Indigenous poetry, enough is pub
hshed-sometmes of no mean strain-to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetea taste and talents OF our
country.
The times appear, for several demand such
work--and not one alone but many The public mind
is feversh and ated STILL from recent political stres
The soft, influence of literature is needed, TO
alay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
abroad; should be driven by indignant
rebuke, ashed by rdicule into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords 1t immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in notion to arouse
the enlightened and increase their number that the
great enemy of popular government no longer BROOD
like portentous cloud the desnies of 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 are but two literary
periodicals Northward Of that city, there probably at
IN or
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,
may Justly claim at least equality with our bre-
,hren and a domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they ENJOY.
1t was from deep of this local want that the
word SOUTHERN engrated on the name of this
periodical; and with any design TO nourish local pre-
ludces advocate supposed local interests Far from
such thought is the editors ervent wish 10 see the
North and South bound endcaringly together forever
the sken bands of mutual kindness and affection Ear
from meditatng hostility to the North he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter TO draw much oil his choicest
matter thence happy indeed will he deem himself,
should his pages by making each region kno" The other
better contribute in any essential degree to dispel the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace OF both, and
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF faierna
love
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached the
fifth No Of it's third volume How far has acted out the
ideas here uttered it not for the editor to say He
believes however that il falls further short of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short ."
theory
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number of the
work contains "a large superroya pages printed in the
very handsomcst manner, new type, and on paper
equal at least TO that which any othe" periodical is
printed in country.
No subscription will be received for less than avonme,
and must with the current one. The price -
IS per volume which must be paid in all cases at the time
of subscribing This is particularly advercd TO nov to
avoid misapprehenson future misunderstandIne-as
no order will hereafter b 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 loom'Ieso'er ~" "''S
ten cents e.. Il, NJ,
An communications or letters, relative TO the Mcsseh
IN -. IT, Jdresscd 70 THOMAS w WHITE,
e' Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond Va