The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-01
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR

THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly 10 literature, but occasionally finding room
for articles TINT fan within the scope OF Science and not
processing entire disdan of tasteful secfon though
lis matter has been as 1t will continue to be- in the
original
Party politics and controversial theology far pos
sible, jealousy excluded They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science,
otherwise unobjectionabe gain admtance for the
sake Of the valuable matter TO which they adhere
Du, wneneysr YER. tina, they are on only not
not well be severed from the sterling ore ~herewith it is
incorporated
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
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works rcvewed-to direct the readers
attention books that deserve be read,-and
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only to be burned In this Of publi
cations that by fheir variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every undiscrminating student impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned is Of
the most inestmabe and indispensable of auxiaries to
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales having utility amusement,
or both,-Hstorca Sketches-and "reminiscences of
events minute for history yet Calculating it, and height
enng its Interestingly be regarded forming the staple
Of the work And Of indigenous poetry, enough pub
lished-sometimes Of srain-to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetica taste and talents OF our
country.
The appear for several reasons, demand such
work-and not one alone. but many. The public mind
is eversh and irritated STILL from recent political sriies
The soft assuasive influence OF literature IS needed, TO
aay that fever and soohe that irritation Vice and folly
roting abroad: They should be driven by indignant
rebuke dashed by rdicule into their fitting haun,s
Ignorance lords it immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in morton, to arouse
the enlightened and to increase their numbers SO that the
great enemy Of popular may longer brood,
like portenous cloud the destinies OF our country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent be employed than periodical on the plan o.
the Messenger 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
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 Northemi No: for in wealth. talents, and TASTE
may Justly claim at least equality with our bre
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords il choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
II was from deep Of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN engrafted the Of this
periodical and not with any design TO noursh local pre-
udces or to advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought il is the editors fecn wish the
North and South bound endearingly together forever IN
the sken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medta,ing hostility to the North, ne has aIsaas
matter thence happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know thc oner
lowering clouds that now threaten the peace OF boih and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of iraerna
| love.
fifth No of its third volume How far il has acted out the
ideas here uttered, is not for the editor to say lie
believes however that falls not 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 "a large superroya pages printed in the
very handsomest manner, on new type and on paper
equal at least to that on which any other periodical Is
/ printed in country.
No subscription will be received for less than volume
and commence with the current one The price IS
S5 per volume which must be paid in all cases at the time
Of subscribing This is particularly advered to now to
avoid misapprchension, or future msunderstandngas
he accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage on the Messenger is six cents on any sin
gle No for all distances under 100 mesovcr 100 miles
| ten cents. -,
An communications or letters relative 10 the Messen
| GER must be addressed to THOMAS w WHITE;
| Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, va