The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-17
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
rnoMAs W. WHITE, EDITOR AND rRoPRIEToR.

TNHIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly TO literature but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope of Science and
processing entire dsdan OF tasteful selections though
It's matter has been, as Will continue TO be, In the MAN,
original.
Party politics and theology as far as pos
sible, jealousy excluded They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science
otherwise unobJectionable, gain admance for the
sake OF the valuable matter to which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they Incidental only not
primary They dross tolerated only because it
not We'll be severed from the sterling wherewh
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and it is the editors aim that they should
have threeiod tendency-to convey in condensed
iorm such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied IN the works reviewedto direct the readers
attention to books that deserve be read,-and
him against wasting lime and money upon that large num-
Der, which merit only be burned In this age of publ
Cations that by cneir variety and multitude distract and
orerMhelm every undiscrminating student impartial
criticism, governed by the views Just mentioned one of
the most inesnable and indispensable OF auxaries, to
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales having in view utility amusement,
or both,-Hisiorica Sketches--and "reminiscences OF
events too minute for history yet calculating it. and height
ening its interest may be regarded forming the staple
OF the work And OF indigenous poetry, enough is pub
shed-sometmes Of srain--to manifest and TO
cultivate the growing poeca taste and talents OF our
country.
The times appear for several reasons demand such
work-and not one alone, but many. The public mind
is leversh and irrated still, from political sriies
The Soft influence of literature is needed to
are riotng abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, or dashed by rdicue, into their fitting haunts.
Ignorance lords II immense proportion OF our
people. Every spring should be set in notion to arouse
the enlightened and increase their number that the
great enemy of popular government may no longer BROOD
like porenous cloud the destinies OF country
And TO accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent be employed than periodical, the plan
the Messenger if 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. Northward OF that city, there probably at
least twenty-five thirty Is this contrast justified by
the wealth, the leisure the native talent, or 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 brc-
thren; and domestic institution exclusively own,
beyond all doubt affords choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they ENJOY.
Il was from deep sense of this local want that the
word SOUTHERN engrafted the name of this
periodical and with any design nourish local pre-
JUDGES, TO advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought is the editors ferven wish 10 see the
North and South bound cndearingly together forever IN
the silken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medating hostility to the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much OF his choicest
matter thence; ann happy indeed viii he deem himself
should his pages by making each region Know the oter
better, contribute in any essential degree TO dispe the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace OF BOTH and
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF iraerna
love.
fifth No OF third volume How far il has acted out the
ideas here uttered il is not for the editor Ho
believes however that it 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 81 large superoyai pages printed IN the
very handsomest manner, on new type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical is
printed in our country
No subscription Will be received Tor less than volume,
and must commence with the current The price ~
IS per volume, which be paid all at the Tune
Of subscribing. This particularly adverted TO no" 10
avoid misapprehcnsion or future mlsunderslanalng
order will hereafter he attended to unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage the Messenger IS sS cents on any SIN
ten cents.
All communications or letters, relative 10 the MesseR
oey ynust be addressed 10 THOMAS w. WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va