The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-03-29
.~r. PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER
THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly TO literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and not
protesting entire dsdan OF tasteful seicc0ns though
lis matter has been as il will continue TO be- in the
original
Party politics and controversial theology as far as pos.
sble, Jealously excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature in moral science"
otherwise unobeconahle, to gain abundance for the
sake of the valuable which they adhere
but whenever that happens they are incidental only not
primary They dross, tolerated only because 1t can
not well be severed from the sterling wherewh 1t
Incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work; and is the editors aim that they shoti
have a threcold tendency-to convey in condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents ate
embodied in the works reviewed,-to direct the rcad RS
attention to books that deserve to be read and
HIM against wasting time and money upon that ygc MN.
Der, which merit only to be burned In this age of puh
cations that by heir variety and multitude distract and
oserwhelm every undiscriminating student, impartial
criticism governed by the views Just mentioned, of
the most nestimabe and Indispensable of auxaries,
HIM who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility or amusemcg',
or boh,-Historca Sketches,--and "reminiscences Of
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
lIshed-sometmes of no mean stran-to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetical taste and talents Ct our
country.
The times appear for several reasons, to demand such
wort-and not one alone, but many. The public mind
is feverlsh and itated STILL from political rcS
The soft, assuasve influence of literature is needed 70
alay that fever, and soo,he that irritation Vice and folly
rioting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by ridcue, into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords it immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set IN notion to arouse
the enligh,ened and increase their number that the
great enemy of popular may no longer brood,
like ponentous cloud the dcsnies of our country
And to accomplish all these ends what more powerful
agent can be employed than periodical, the plan
the Messenger 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 two literary
periodicals Norhward Of that city, there probably at
least twenty-five thirty Is this contras, 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 equality with our bre
hrcn; and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords us if choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
Ii was from deep of this local want that the
word SOUTHERN engrated on the mare OF this
pcrod,ca and not with any design to nourish local pre-
udices, TO advocate supposed local interests Ear from
any such thought il is the editors eryent wish TO see the
North and South bound endearingly together forever ~
the silken bands Of mutual kindness and affection ~
from meditating hostility to the North he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter to draw much Of his choicest
matter thence ana happy indeed will he deem himsc,,
should his pages, by making each region know the orr
better contribute in any essential degree to dlspel w
lowering clouds that threaten the peace OF both end
TO brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of fratcnA
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached hc
hh No of its third volume How far il has acted out me
IDEAS here uttered, it is not for the editor TO saw He
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 the
work contains Ga large supeoyal pages, printed in the
very handsomest manner new type, and on paper
equal at least 10 that which any other periodical
printed in our country.
No subscription will he received for less than volume
and must commence with The current The price is
IS per volume which must be paid in all al the time
of subscribing This is particularly adyerted 10 to
avoid misrepresentation, future Notwithstanding
order will hereafter he attended to unless accompan"d
with the price of subscription.
The postage on the Messenger is six cents any
gle No for all distances under 100 mesover 100 miles
ten cents
All communications or letters relative TO the Mcsscn
ger must hc addressed to THoMhs w WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office. Richmond Va