The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-31
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER

THOMAS w. WHITE. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and no,
protesting entire dsdain Of tasteful sesefons though
It's matter has been, AZ il viii continue To be, in the main
Party politics and controversial theology ss far n,
siLle are jealousy excluded. They are sometimes 40
blended with discussions in literature science
otherwise unobiectionabe, 10 gain admance for ,he
sake Of the valuable matter To which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only moi
Primary They doss. tolerated only because /, can
not well be severed from the sterling wherewi,h ii is
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due .pac.
IN the work and il Is the editors aim that they should
have threefold tendency-to convey in a condensed
FORM such valuable truths interesting incidents as are
embodied in the works revewedo direct the readers
attention 10 books that deserve to be readand TO warn
him against wasting time and money upon that large num-
bcr which merit only to be burned In this age Of pub
cations that y hcir variety and multitude distract and
over~helm every undiscrminaiing student impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned Of
the nestmable and indispensable Of auxaries 10
him who does wish TO discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility or amusement,
or both,-Historeal Sketches,-and "reminiscences Of
events too minute for history yet calculating it, and height
ening its Interestingly be regarded forming the staple
Of the work And Of Indigenous poetry, enough pub
UNDERSTANDINGS Of no mean strain-to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poecal taste and talents Of
country.
The times appear for several reasons demand such
a work-and not alone, but many. The public mind
is fevesh and irated still, from political strfes
The soft, assuasve influence Of literature is needed
aay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
rlotng abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke or dashed by rdicule, into their fitting hauns.
Ignorance lords it 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 may longer BROOD
like porientous cloud the destnes of our country
And to accomplish all these ends what more powerful
agent can be employed than periodical, on the plan o.
the Messenger il that plan be but carried out in practice
The South, peculiarly, requires such agent In all
the Union south OF Washington there but two literary
periodicals. Northward Of that city, there probably at
least twenty five thirty Is this contrast justified by
the wealth, the leisure the native talent the actual
literary taste Of the Southern people, compared with those
Of the Norhem No: for in wealth, talents, and taste,
may Justly claim at least equality with our bre
thren; and domestic institution exclusively own,
beyond all doubt affords if choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
II from deep of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN engrafted on the name Of this
periodical and not with any design to noursh local pre-
judces to advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought the editors ferven wish the
North and South bound endearngy together forever in
the siken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medating hostility to the North he has already
matter thence; ana happy indeed will he deem himself,
should his pages, by making each region know the other
better contribute IN any essential degree 70 dspei the
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF raternal
love.
fifth No OF its third volume How far it has acted the
ideas here uttered il is not for the editor TO say. He
believes however, that it 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 superoyal pages, printed in the
very handsomest manner, new type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical
printed in country.
No subscription win be received for less than avolume
and must commence with the current The price is
s5 per volume which must be paid in all cases at the time
Of subscribing This is particularly adverted to nov to
no order will hereafter he attended unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage the Messenger is six cents on any SIN
Gle No for all distances under 100 mes-over 100 miles
ten cents.
All communities tions or letters relative to the Messen
ger must be addressed to THOMAS w. WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond Va