Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-05-01
PROsPECTUS
,oUrHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
TnonA. !. walrn, Editor and p p

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
THOMAS ]. WHITE, Editor and ProprietOr.
YTyHIs 4 a monthly Magazine, devoted
chiefly 10 Literature, but occasionally
finding room also for articles that fall within
the scope Of Science; and not protesting an /
entire disdain Of tasteful selections, though us |
matter has been, as win continue 70 be, N The |
main, original.
Party Politics and controversial Iheology'
as far as possible, are jealousy excluded
They are sometimes so blended with discus
sions In literature or IN moral science oliieI"lse
unobiectionable, as to gain abundance ier the
sake ofthe more valuable matter TO which they
adhere /: but whenever that happens, they are
incidental, only; not primary. They are dross
tolerated only because it cannot well De severed
'front.' sterling ore wheregithit Is IncorPora-
ted.
| Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their
/ due space In the work; and It is tie Editors
aim that they should have threetold tendency
to convey, IN a condensed form, such valuable
/ truths or interesting incidents as are embodied
IN the works reviewed,-to direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be reads-
and to warn him against wasting time and mon
ey upon that large number, which merit only to
/ be burned. In this age, of publications that By
| their variety and multitude distract and over
whelm every Imdiscriminating student, impair
tial criticism, governed by the views just men
toned, is one Of the most nestimable and indis-
pensable ofauxiiaries, to him who does wish to
discriminate,
Essays, and Tales, having in view utility or
amusement, OF both---H Historical Sketches-and
"reminiscences ofevents too minute for History,
yet elucidatingi it and heightening its interests,
may be regarded as forming the staple Of the
work. And Of Indigenous Poetry, enough is
published of no mean straiI--to
manifest and to cultivate the growing political
taste and talents Of our country.
The times appear, for several reasons, to de-
manG such awork: andnot one alone, but ma
, ny. The public mind Is feverish and irritafed
stlD, tronrecent political strifes: The soft as
suaslve influence of Literature is needed, to al
lay that fever and soothe that irritation, Vice
and folly are riohng abroad: they should be
driven by indignant rebuke, or Iashed byridicule
INTO their fitting haunts. Ignorance lords it,
over an immense proportion of our people. Ey-
cry spring should be set In motion, to arouse
: the enlightened, and to increase their number;
: so that the great enemy of popular govern
ment may no longer brood, Ike portentious
cloud, over the destinies of our country. And
r to accomplish all these ends, what more pow
erflI agent can be employed, than periodical,
on the plan Of 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 are but two Literary periodicals.! North
ward ofthat city, there are probably at least
twenty-five or thirty! Is this contrast iusti-
fed by the wealth, the leisure, the native tai
ent, or the actual literary taste, of the Southern
people, compared with those ofthe Northern
No: for IN wealth, talents and taste, we may
justly claim at least an equality with our breth-
rem; and domestic institution exclusively our
own, beyond all doubt, affords US, five choose,
twice the leisure for reading and writing,
; which they enjoy.
It was from a deep sense of this local want,
that the word Southern was engrafted on the
name ofthis periodical; and not with any de-
sign to nourlsh local prejudices, or to advocate
supposed local interests. Far from any such
) thought, 1t Is the Editors feryent wish to see
the North and South bound endearingly to-
J. gether forever, IN tie slIken bands Of mutual
u kindness and affection. Far from meditatinn
r hostility to the North, he has already drawn.
$ Fand he hopes therefore to draw much Of his
q choicest matter thence: and happy indeed VIII
!, he deem hinsel, should his pages, by making
. each region know Itself better, contribute N
e any essential degree to dispel tie lowering
: clouds that fhraataI, the Race of both ard
20 brighten and strengthen the sacred ties o.
fTaternal love.
!, The Southern Literary Messenger has now
reached the 18th Nc. Of the third volume
How FART has acted out the IDEAS here uttered
? is not for the Editor to say. He believes, how
ever that II falls not further short OF lem. than
I human weakness usually makes Practice fan
[ short of Theory
l. The Southern Literary MESSENGER is b,Ih.
lished IN monthly numbers, of Ga large SUPER
royal octave pages each, on the-best paper.
and neatly covered, at 5 dollars year, paya-
bic In advance.
=. Drive new subscribers by sending Their
names and 20 dollars at one time to the editor.
! VIII receive Their copies for one year, for that
sum, or at dollars each.
o. The risk of loss ofpayments for subscrip-
uons, which have been properly committed to
the nlal, or to the hands of a postmaster. is as
sumed by the editor.
4. Ii a subscription is not directed to be dis
continued before the first number of the NEXT
volume has been published it viii be taken as
a continuance for another year. Subscriptions
must commence with the beginning Of tba vol
ume, and VIII not be taken for less than a
years publication.
8. The mutual obligations of the publisher
and subscriber, for the year,.are fully incurred
as soon as the first number of the volurneis H.
sued; and after that time, no discontinuance If
subscription viii be permitted. Nor viii :
subscription be discontinued for anv earlier
no9ce, while any thing thereon remains dine
unless at the option of the editor.
Ihe STATE Of Mississippi Winsfo7s= CoNaf1
solomon X Mechanism attachment