The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-24
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER
THOMAS ". WHITE. rDlrop AND rropRIEroR

THOMAS w. WHITE. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly 10 literature, but occasionally finding room
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and not
protesting entire disdan Of tasteful SELECTIONS though
It's matter has BEEN as viii continue To be- IN the main
original, a.,l ,,,;,,.. !. .,.,,,u.,.,
slbe, jealousy excluded They are sometimes SO
blended with discussions literature or in moral science
otherwise unobectonale, TO gain admtance for the
sake Of the more valuable matter 10 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 wherewth it is
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and is the editors tina, thew should
have threeiold tendency-to convey in a condensed
FORM such valuable truths interesting incidents AS are
embodied in the works Teyiewed,to direct the readers
attention books that deserve TO be read-and to warn
him against wasting time and money upon that large
Der, which merit only 70 be burned. In this of publ
cations that by fher variety and multitude distract and
over~helm every undiscriminating student, impartial
criticism, governed by the views just mentioned, Of
the most nestimabe and indispensable Of auxiaries 10
him who does wish TO discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having IN utility amusement,
or both Historical Sketches,-and "Reminiscences of
minute for history yet Calculating It, and height.
enng its interestingly be regarded as forming the staple
Of the work. And Of Indigenous poetry enough pub
lshed-sometimes of mean straino manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetcal taste and talents OF our
country ..-..'.
The times appear for several reasons to demand such
a work-and not one alone but many. The public mind
|
The soft assuasiye influence OF literature Is needed, 10
aay that fever and soohe that irritation Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke dashed by dicule into their fitting haunts.
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 poentous cloud over the destlnes OF our country
And TO accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent be employed than periodical, the plan
the Messenger 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 Norhward 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 Northern No: for in wealth, talents and taste,
may Justly claim at least an equality with our bre-
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 the Of this
periodical and not with any design TO noursh local
JUDGES, to advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought it is the editors erven wish to see the
North and South bound endearngly together forever
the silken bands of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medtating hostility to the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much OF his choicest
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 TO dspei the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of BOTH and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF fratena
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No of its third volume How far it has acted out the
IDEAS here uttered it is for the editor say. He
believes however that it falls further short Of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
! theory. a'
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number Of the
work Ga large superroyai pages printed In the
very handsomest manner, on new type, ana on paper
equal at least to that on which any other periodical is
printed in country.
No subscription will be received for less than volume,
and must commence with the current The price is
IS per volumes which must be paid in all cases al the time
of subscribing This is particularly adverted to now to
avoid misapprehension or future Observation-Disclosures
no order will hereafter be 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 100 miles-oyer 100 miles
| ten cents.
All communications letters, relative to the Messen
ger, must be addressed to THOMAS W. WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va