The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-15
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER
. y THOMAS ". WHITE. EDITOR AND PRoPRIEroR

/ 4
vT,HIs is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly TO literature but occasionally finding room
foE articles that fall within the scope OF Science ana MOI
lis matter has been viii continue be, the main,
original
Party politics and controversial theology as Ear as pos.
sible, iealousy excluded. They sometimes $
blended with discussions in literature moral science,
otherwise unobjectionabe, admitance for the
but whenever that happens they Incidental only
primary They dross, tolerated only because
not well be severed from the sterling wherewh it
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work; and it is the editors aim that they should
have threefe!d tendency-to convey in condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works revewedto direct the readers
attention to books that deserve TO be ead-and TO
him against wasting time and money upon that large
Der, which merit only TO be burned In this age Of publ
cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every undscrminating student, impartial
criticism governed by the views Just mentioned, is Of
the mos, incstmable and OF auxarles TO
him who does wish TO discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility amusement,
or both,-Hstorcal Sketches,-and "reminiscences Of
events too minute for history Calculating and height
enlng its interest be regarded forming the staple
Of the work And Of indigenous poetry enough is pub.
cultivate the growing poeca taste and talents Of our
country.
The times appear for several reasons TO demand such
work-and not one alone, but many The public mind
is feverish and nitaicd still from political strifcs
The soft, assuasve influence Of literature is needed,
riotng abroad They should be driven by ndignan,
rcbuke, dashed by ndcue, into their fitting hsunts
ignorance lords II over an immense proportion OF our
the enlightened and increase their number that the
great enemy Of popular government may no longer brood
like portentous cloud, over the destines Of country
And TO accomplish all these ends, what powerful
agent be employed than periodical, the plan
the Messenger II that plan be but carried on, in practice
The South peculiarly, requires such an agent. In all
the Union south of Washington, there but two literary
periodicals Northward OF that city, there probably a,
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 Norhen No for in wealth, talents and taste
we may justly claim AT leas, equality with our bre.
thren and domestic institution exclusively own,
beyond all doubt affords choose, twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy
II from deep Of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN engrafcd the Of this
periodical and not with any design TO noursh local pre-.
JUDGES TO advocate supposed local interests Far from
such thought, il is the editors feent wish 10 u"
the skon bands Of mutual Kindness and affection Far
from meditarg hostility TO the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes 70 draw much :, his seoees
should his pages by making each region know the other
better, contribute in any essential degree TO d,spc tie
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of both and
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of iaiorna
love
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached
fifth No OF its third volume. How far II has acted The
ideas here uttered it is not for the editor Tie
believes, however, that il falls further shon Of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall sho o.
theory
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number Of The
work contains 81 large snperoyai pages printed IN the
very handsomest manner, type, and on paper
equal at least that which any othrr periodical
printed in country
No subscription viii be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current The price ~
IS per volume, which bc paid in all cases al N" f
Of subscribing This is particularly adNcred TO nov 70
avoid msapprehension, future MISUNDERSTANDING
no order will hereafter he attended TO unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage the Messenger is SIX cents on NY IN
ve M for all distances under 100 miles0ycI 100 miles
ten cents. :.
An communications letters, relative 70 the MesscE
ger, must he addressed to n9ss " "H5i
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Rfchmond, Va