The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-07-18
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS W. WHITE. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR

THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
! THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
for articles that fa Within the senpe Of Science and nos
protesting entire disdan of tasteful selections though
its matter has been, it will continue to be- in the main,
original
Party politics and controversial theology as far as pos
sble, jealously excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature or in moral science
otherwise unobectionabe, gain admtance for the
sake Of the valuable matter to which they adhere:
but whoneysr that happens they are incidental only not
not well be severed from the sterling ~herewh 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 revewed-o direct the readers
attention books that deserve be and
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only to be burned In this age of publi
Cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
oyerMhelm every undiscriminating student, impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned is Of
the most nesiimabe and indispensable of anxaries, 10
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view uty amusement,
both ,-Historical Sketches,-and "reminiscences Of
events too minute for history yet calculating it, and height
enng its Interestingly be regarded forming the staple
OF the work And Of Indigenous poetry, enough is pub
iished-sometimes Of strainto manifest and to
country.
The times appear for several reasons, demand such
work-and not alone, but many. The public mind
is everish and ritated STILL from political srifes:
The soft, assuasve influence of literature is needed to
aay that fever and soo,he that irritation. Vice and folly
riotng abroad: They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by ridcue into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords it over an immense proportion Of our
people Every spring should be set in motion, to arouse
the enlightened and increase their number that the
great enemy of popular government may longer brood,
like portentous cloud the destnes of country
And to accomplish all these ends, what powerful
agent can be employed than periodical on the plan
the Messengers II that plan be but carried out in practice
The South peculiarly, requires such an agent In all
the Union south Of Washington there but literary
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
we may justly claim al least equality with bre
thren and domestic institution exclusively own,
beyond all doubt affords il choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
1t from deep Of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN was engrafcd on the name OF this
periodical and not with design to nourish local pre-.
such thought is the editors fervent wish to see the
North and South bound endearngly together forever IN
the sken bands of mutual kindness and affection Far
from mcdiiatrg hostility the North he has already
and he hopes hereafter TO draw much OF his choicest
matter hence ann happy indeed viii he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know the other
better contribute any essential degree dispe the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of both and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of aterna
love-
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No OF its third volume How far IL has acted the
ideas here uttered it is not for the editor to say He
believes however, that il 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 Ga large superroyal pages printed in the
very handsomest manner, new type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical il
printed in country.
No subscription viii be received for less than volume,
and commence with the current The price IS
SIS per volume which be paid in all nj the tine
Of subscribing This is particularly advcrted 10 now 10
avoid misrepresentation or future misundersandiDe-aS
no order will he attended unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage on the Messenger is six cents on any sin
gle No for all distances under l00milesover 100 miles
ten cents.
All communications letters, relative to the Messen
ger must be addressed to TnoMAs W WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va