The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-03-17
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS ". 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 dsdon Of tasteful setecions though
its matter has bcen as will continue to be- in the man,
original
sible, jealously excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science
otherwise unobeconabe, as to gain admitiance for e
sake OF the valuable matter TO which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they incidental only not
primary They dross, tolerated only because it can
not well be severed from the sterling wherewh it
incorporated
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work. and is the editors aim that they should
have threciold tendency--to convey in condensed
FORM such valuable truths interesting incidents as are
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 ter variety and multitude distract and
overWhelm every Understanding student, impartial
CRITICISM governed by the views Just mentioned of
the most inestmable and indispensable of auxaries,
HIM who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in vewutlity amusement
or both,-Hstorca Sketches,--and "reminiscences of
events too minute for history yet Calculating it, and height
ening its interest," be regarded forming the staple
OF the work And Of indigenous poetry, enough is pub
hshed-somemes OF no mean srain--to manifest and TO
cultivate the growing poetca taste and talents of
country.
The times appear for several reasons to demand such
work-an not alone, but many. The public mind
is feverish and rrtated still from recent political srifes;
The soft, assuasve influence of literature is needed
allay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
riotng abroad: They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by ridcue, into their fitting haunts.
Ignorance lords it over immense proportion OF our
people. Every spring should be set in notion TO arouse
the enlightened and to increase their NUMBER that the
great enemy OF popular government may no longer BROOD
like poentous cloud the destlnies OF our country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent can 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
Ifnsa, nhnf pvpI
periodicals Nohward Of that city, there probably at
eas, 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 our bre-
thrcn; and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords u.s. il choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing which they enjoy.
Ii was from deep OF this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN engrated the name Of this
periodical and with any design nourish local pre-
JUDGES, advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought it is the editors ervent wish TO the
North and South bound endearingly together forever
the silken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from meditang hostility to the North he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much OF his choicest
matter thence; 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 haterna
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached the
fifth No OF its third volume. How fnr il has acted out the
ideas here uttered il is not for the editor TO say. He
believes however that falls further short OF them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
theory. .
Tho Messenger is issued monthly Each number Of the
work contains GA large superroyal 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 win be received for less than volume,
and must commence with the current one. The price Is
IS per volume which be paid all nj the time
Of subscribing This is particularly adyered 10 now to
avoid misrepresentation future Observation-Disclosures
order will hereafter be attended to 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 mlcsover 100 miles
ten cents
All communications or letters relative to the Messcn
ger mus, he addressed 10 THOMAS w. WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va