The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-01
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
rHomAs ". wn1rE, EDITOR assn rRorRIEron

THOMAS w. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
TNHTS IS A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
l. chiefly TO literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope Of Sciences and not
protesting entire disdan of tasteful selections though
It's matter has bech it viii continue to be, in the MAN,
original.
Party politics and controversial theology, far pos.
sble, are jealousy excluded. They are sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science
otherwise unnhectonabe, gain admittance for the
sake of the valuable matter to which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they are incidental only not
primary They dross, tolerated only because it
well be severed from the sterling wherewh
| incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work; and is the editors that they should
have theeold tendency-to convey in n condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works revcwed,-o direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be and
him against wasting time and money upon that large
Der, which merit only be burned In this age OF publ
Cations that by fcir variety and multitude distract and
ovcrMhelm every undiscrlminating student impartial
criticism governed by the views Just mentioned, of
the most ncstimable and indispensable of auxaries,
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility amusement,
or both,-Historica Sketches,-and "reminiscences OF
events too minute for history yet eucdang it. and height
ening its interest be regarded as forming the staple
OF the work And Of Indigenous poetry enough is pub
lishedsometimes Of stran-to manifest and TO
cultivate the growing poetical taste and talents of
country.
The times appear for several reasons demand such
a work-and not alone, but many. The public mind
is eyerish and irrited still, from recent political sres
aay that fever and soohe that irritation. Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by rdiculc, into their fitting hanns
Ignorance lords it immense proportion oil our
people. Every spring should he motion, TO arouse
the enlightened and to increase their number that the
great Of popular government may no longer BROOD
like porcntous cloud, the destines OF our country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more powcrIa
agent be employed thnn periodical, the plan
the Messenger If that plan be but carried out in practice
The South peculiarly, requires such agent. In all
the non 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 the actual
literary taste OF the Southern people, compared with those
Of the Northern No: for in wealth, talents and taste,
we may justly claim at least equality with our hrc'
thren and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords il choose twice the leisure
| for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
IL was from deep Of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN engraited the Of this
periodical; and not with any design TO noursh local pre-
adces to advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought il is the editors cyent wish 10 see the
North and South bound endcaringy together forever III
the skcn 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; happy indeed viii he deem himself
should his pages, by making each region know the ohf
better contribute any essential degree 10 dlspcl ne
lowering clouds that threaten the peace OF both aHl
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF raten'
love.
fifth No of its third volume. How far il has acted the
ideas here uttered it is not for the editor he
believes however that IT falls not further short OF thcm
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
| theory
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number oil nc
work contains Ga large supcroyai pages printed In The
very handsomes manner type, and on paper
equal NJ least 10 that which any other periodical IS
printed in our country.
No subscription viii be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current one The price ~
SIS per volume which must be paid all cases at the time
OF subscribing This ia particularly advcrcd TO no" l"
avoid msapprehenson or future mlsundcrsiandihs-"7
nrfr lpI In
with the price Of subscription
The postage the Messenger is six cents on any sun
gle No for all distances under lC0milcsovcG 100 mics
ten cents. .
An communications letters, relative 10 the Messcn
gcy must he addressed 10 THOMAS w. WHITE
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, va