The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-19
M PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS ". WHITE, EDITOR 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
protesting entire disdan Of tasteful Selections tho
lis matter has BEEN as i will continue to be- in the
Party politics and controversial theology as far as pos
shle, are jealousy excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions literature moral science
otherwise unobectonabe gain admittance for the
sake of The valuable matter to which they adhcre
but whenever that happens they incidental only
primary They are dross tolerated only because It car
well be severed from the sterling wherewh
incorporated ..s%
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and is the editors aim that they should
have threefoa tendcncy-to convey in CONDENSED
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reviewedto direct the readers
attention TO books that deserve to be read,-and
him against wasting time and money upon that large
Der, which merit only TO be burned In this age of publ
cations that by er variety and multitude distract and
over~helm every undscrminaiing student, impartial
criticism governed by the views Just mentioned. Of
the mos, inestimable and indispensable of auxaries
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having view utility amusement,
or boh,--Historca Sketches,-and "reminiscences Of
events too minute for history yet Calculating and height
ening its interest be regarded forming the staple
OF the work. And OF Indigenous poetry, enough pub
hshed-sometimes Of strain-to manifest and TO
cultivate the growing poetica taste and talents OF our
country.
The times appear for several reasons to demand such
a work-and moi alone, but many. The public mind
everish and iritaed STILL from political strtcs
aay that fever, and soothe that irritation. Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by ndignan,
rebuke, dashed by ridcue, into their fitting hannts
Ignorance lords it immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in notion to arouse
the enlightened and increase their number so that the
great enemy Of popular government may no longer brood
like porte ntous cloud the desnies OF
And TO accomplish all these ends what more powerful
agent can be employed than PERIODICAL on the plan o.
the Messenger hat 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 NorthwJd 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 Norhern No. for in wealth, talents and taste,
we may Justly claim at least an equality with our be'
hren; and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords il We choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy
1t was from deep 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 is the editors eent wish to see the
North and South bound endearngy together forever IN
the sken bands of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medta,ing hostility to the North he has already
drawn and he hopes draw much Of his choicest
thence and happy indeed VIII nc deem himself
should his pages by making each region know the other
better contribute ~ any @ 70 e @
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties oil raiern4
| love ..s. - ....&
fifth No Of its third volume How far ii has acted out The
ideas here uttered it is for the editor 10 say. He
believes however that il falls not further short Of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number Of tho
work contains 6i large super.royal pages printed in the
very handsomest manner, type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical
printed in country
No subscription will be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current The pace Is
IS per volume, which must be paid all al the tune
Of subscribing This is particularly adycrtcd TO now to
avoid misrepresentation, future misunderstanding-''
I lau Il min
with the price OF subscription.
The postage on the Messenger is six cents on any SIN
gle No for all distances under 100 milesovcr 100 miles
ten cents.
An communications or letters relative tho Mcsscn
ger must he addressed TO THOMAS w. WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va