The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-26
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
rHoMAs ". WHITE, Ep1roR ANp pRopRIEroR.

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 disdan Of tasteful selections though
is meter has been, as 1t will continue to be, in the MAN,
Party politics and controversial theology a. far ms DOS
sible, are jealousy excluded They sometimes so
blended with discussions in literature moral science
otherwise unobectonabe gain admttance for the
sake of the valuable matter to which they adhere
but wheneTsr that happens they are incidental only no,
not well be severed from the sterling wherewth il is
Incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and it is the editors aim that they should
have threefold tendency--to convey in a condensed
FORM such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reviewed-to direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be readand
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only to be burned. In this age Of publ
cations that by her variety and multitude distract and
overwhem every undiscrimnating student, impartial
CRITICISM governed by the views just mentioned Of
the most nesiimabe and Indispensable of auxiliares
him who does wish to discriminate. e.,
Essays and Tales, having in utility amusement,
or both-Historical 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
lished-sometimes Of no mean stranto manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetica taste and talents of
country
The times appear for several reasons demand such
a work-and not alone, but many The public mind
eversh and irrtated STILL from political stres
The soft assuasive influence of literature is needed to
aay that fever and soohe that irritation Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke ashed by ndicule into their fitting hauns.
Ignorance lords it over immense proportion OF our
people. Every spring should be set in notion to arouse
the enlightened and increase their NUMBER that the
great Of popular government may no longer BROOD
like portenous cloud over the destnies Of country
And accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
can be employed than periodical on the plan
the Messenger If that plan be but carried out in practice
The South, peculiarly, requires such agent. In all
the Union south Of Washington there but two literary
periodicals Nohward of that city, there probably at
least twentyv 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,
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords US, choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
1t was from deep of this local want that the
word SeUTHERN engrafted on the name OF this
periodical and with any design to noursh local pre-
udices advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought is the editors ferven WISH 10 see he
North and South bound endearngy together forever III
the silken bands Of mutual kindness and affection RAJ
from meditating hostility to the North, he has ALREADY
drawn and he hopes hereafter to draw much Of ms
matter thence ana happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know the ofhe
better contribute in any essential degree to dspe lhe
lowering clouds that now threaten the peace OF oo arr
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties oil ira'efh"I
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
6hb No III s third volume. How far il has acted out The
dea. be,e uttered il is not for the editor say, He
believes however that falls not further short OF them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short o.
theory. . f.L.
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number OF the
work contains 81 large superoya pages, printed IN We
very handsomest manner new type, and on paper
equal at least that which any other periodical ID
printed in country.
No subscription will be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current The Prce Is
SIS per volume which be paid in all cases al the 'me
Of subscribing This is particularly adyerted 10 no" 10
avoid misapprehenson, future misunderstandlngI
no order will hereafter be attended to unless accompanied
with the price of subscription
The postage on the Messenger is SIR cents on any sh
e No Tor ali distances under 100 mlesover 100 miles
ten cents -, u.o,
ger, must be addressed to lHoMAs w VIZ VII u,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond va