The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-28
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,

THOMAS w. WHITE. EDITOR AND Proprietor
THIS Is MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
chiefly TO literature, but occasionally finding room
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and NOT
protesting entire disdaiR Of tasteful seections bongh
its matter has been, it viii continue TO be- in the main
original
sble, jealousy excluded They are sometimes So
blended with discussions in literature or in moral science
otherwise unobectonable gain admittance for ,Ee
sake Of the valuable matter which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only NOT
primary. They dross, tolerated only because il can
not well be severed from the sterling wheewh it is
incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due spars
in the work and is the editors aim that thew shouId
have threefold tendency-to convey in a condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents as are
embodied in the works reyiewed,to direct the readers
attention to books that deserve TO be and TO warn
him against wasting time and money upon that large mum
Der, which merit only 70 be burned In this age OF publ
Cations that by Their variety and multitude distract and
oyerwhelm every undlscriminating student, impartial
criticism, governed by the views Just mentioned one Of
the most nestimabe and indispensable Of auxlaries 10
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in ewutility amusement
or both-Historical Sketches,-and "reminiscences Of
minute for history, yet Calculating and height
ening its Interestingly be regarded forming the STAPLE
Of the work. And Of Indigenous poetry enough is pub
lishcd-sometimes Of strainto manifest and TO
cultivate the growing poetca taste and talents Of
country.
The times appear, for several reasons demand such
a work-and not one alone but many The public mind
is feverish and iitated STILL from political sns
The soft, assuasive influence Of literature is needed
aay that fever and soohe that irritation Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by Indignant
rebuke, or dashed by ridicule into their fitting haun
Ignorance lords It immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in notion to arouse
the enlightened and TO increase their number so that The
great enemy Of popular government may longer brood
like porentous cloud the destines Of our country
And TO accomplish all these ends, what more powera
agent be employed than periodical, the plar
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
least twenty-five thirty Is this contrast justified by
the wealth, the leisure. the native talent the actua
literary taste Of the Southern people compared with those
Of the Norhernf No: for in wealth, talents, and taste,
may Justly claim at least an equality with our hre
thren; and domestic institution exclusively own,
beyond all doubt affords if we 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 OF tins
periodical and not with any design to noush local pre-
judces advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought is the editors ferven wish the
North and South bound endearingly together forever
the siken bands OF mutual Kindness and affection Far
from medatirg hostility 10 the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much of his choicest
matter thence; happy indeed will he deem himself,
should his pages by making each region know the other
better contribute any essential degree to dspe the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace OF both and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of fraerna
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached the
fifth No of its third volume, How far has acted the
ideas here uttered it 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 superroya pages printed IN tie
very handsomest manner, new type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical
printed in our country.
No subscription win be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current The price
IS per volume which be paid in all at the tine
OF subscribing This is particularly adverted to no" to
G,t,,r IarS dino
no order will hereafter be attended to unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage the Messenger is six cents on any SIN
gle No for all distances under 100 milesover 100 miles
ten cents ..,...."
All communications or letters, relative to the MesseH
GER must be addressed to THOMAS W. WHITE
Southern Literary Messenger Office Richmond, Va