The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-04-05
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER

THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS Is MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
l. chiefly to literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope of Science and not
protesting entire disdan of tasteful selections though
its matter has been, It will continue 10 be- in the MAN,
original ....>r
Party politics and controversial theology far as pos.
sibe, are jealously excluded, They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature or in moral science
otherwise unobectionabe, gain admiance for the
sake Of the valuable matter to which they adhere
but whenever that happens they are Incidental only not
primary. They dross, tolerated only because
not well be severed from the sterling wheewh it
incorporated. ...s
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work; and it is the editors that they should
have threeold iendency-to convey in condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works revewed,-o direct the readers
attention to books that deserve TO be rcad-and TO
him against wasting time and money upon that large num-
Der, which merit only to be burned In this OF publ
cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every undlscrlminating student, impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned is one OF
the most ncstimabe and indispensable of auxiaries
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility or amusement,
or boh,-Historical Sketches,-and "reminiscences Of
events too minute for history yet eucdang It, and height
enng Its interestingly be regarded forming the staple
OF the work And OF Indigenous poetry, enough is pub
lished-somemes of no mean stranto manifest and TO
cultivate the growing poetical taste and talents OF our
country.
The times appear for several reasons demand snch
work-and not one alone, but many. The public mind
is feyerish and ritated still from recent political srcs
i
alay that fever, and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
rlotng abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by rldcue, into their fitting haunts,
Ignorance lords il immense proportion OF our
people. Every spring should be set in motion, to arouse
the enlightened and increase their number so that the
great enemy OF popular government may no longer BROOD
like porentous cloud the destinies OF country
And TO accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agen, he employed than periodical, the plan
the Messenger i that plan De but carried gu, in practice
The South, peculiarly, requires such an agent In all
the Union south Of Washington there but literary
periodicals. Norhwad OF that city, there probably
i >, Twenty-Five or thirty Is this contrast justified hy
the wealth, the leisure the native talent, the actual
literary taste Of the Southern people, compared whhoSc
OF the Northern No: for in wealth talents, and tas'c
may Justly claim at least equality with our trc.
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords u.s. choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they ENJOY.
II was from deep sense Of this local want that the
word SOUTHERN was engrafted on the name of this
periodical and not with any design 10 noursh local pre-
JUDGES TO advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought il is the editors erycn wish 10 see the
North and South bound cndcarnrly together forever IN
the silken bands of mutual kindness and affection Far
from meditatIag hostility to the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes draw much OF his choicest
matter thence happy indeed viii he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know me ohef
better, contribute in any essential degree TO dspe 'h
lowering clouds that now threaten the peace oil t2th a
TO brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF in'rH@I
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached tie
fifth No OF It's third volume. How far II has acted out ne
ideas here uttered, II is not for the editor 10 say lie
believes however, that falls further short Of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number of tho
work GA large super-roya pages, printed ~ me
very handsomcst manner, now type, and on paper
equal least 10 that which any other pcrodcaI -
printed in our country.
No subscription viii be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current one. The price ~
IS per volume which he paid in all eases ut the tlme
Of subscribing This is particularly advcrtcd 10 no" l"
avoid misrepresentation, future nisundrrStahaihFaS
no order will hereafter he attended to unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription
The postage the Messenger ~ SIX cents on any Sun
gle No for all distances under l00miles-oycr loo miles
TIN cents. 49,. Ill.,. :,
An communications or letters, relative TO the Ncssrn
ger, must he addressed 10 THOMAS w. WHITE.
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va