The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-18
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
Il chiefly literature. but occasionally finding
protesting entire dsdan of tasteful seieet,ons though
its matter has been it will continue TO be- the man
original
Party politics and controversial theology as far as pos
sibe, are jealously excluded. They sometimes
otherwise unobeconabe, to gain admittance for the
sake Of the valuable matter which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they incidental only
primary They are dross, tolerated only because
not well be severed from the sterling wherewith it
incorporated
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work; and it is the editors that they should
have threefold tendency--to convey in condensed
FORM such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reyewedto direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only to be burned In this age OF publ
cations that by Their variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every undscrminating student, impartial
criticism, governed by the views just mentioned one OF
the most inesmable and indispensable Of auxaries TO
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales having in view utility or amusement
or both,-Historical Sketches and "reminiscences Of
events too minute for history yet calculating it, and height
Of the work And of indigenous poetry enough is pub
lished-sometimes Of mean srainto manifest and to
cultivate the growing poeca taste and talents of our
country
The times appear for several reasons to demand such
work-and not alone, but many. The public mind
is everish and irrated STILL from recent political strifes
The SOFT assuasve influence Of literature is needed,
aay that fever, and soothe that irritation. Vice and folly
are roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
Tebuke or dashed by rdcue, into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords it over immense proportion of
people Every spring should be set in motion,
the enlightened and their number tina, the
like portenous cloud over the destnes Of our country
And to accomplish all these ends, what powerful
agent can be employed than periodical on the plan
the messengers 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 Norhward Of that city, there probably
least twenty-five or thirty Is this contrast justified by
the wealth, the leisure the native talent, the aciuS
literary taste OF the Southern people, compared with those
Of the Northern No: for in wealth. talents and
thren; and domestic institution exclusively OWE
beyond all doubt affords choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
twas from deep Of this local want, tina, tie
word SOUTHERN engrafted the Of tins
periodicals. and not with any design to noursh local pre-
JUDGES, or 10 advocate supposed local interests Far from
North and south bound endearnsy together oeSer
the siken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medating hostility to the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes draw much OF his choicest
matter thence ano happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages, by making each region know the Other
better, contribute in any essential degree TO dspe The
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of both AMI
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of atern"
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No Of its third volume How far il has acted ont ne
ideas here uttered, il s for the editor he
believes, however that falls further short Of then
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
theory
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number ofth'
work contains Ga large super-roya pages printed IN ~
very handsomest manner, type and on paprt
equal at least TO that which any other periodical y
printed in country.
No subscription will be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current The pncc
IS per volume which must be paid in all cases at the h'
OF subscribing This is particularly advered 10 no"
avoid MISREPRESENTATION. or future msunderstandnr-''
no order will hereafter he attended to unless accompan'
with the price Of subscription
The postage on the Messenger is six cents any ~
gle No for NIL distances under 100 mes-over 100 mics
ten cents. :.
An communications or letters relative TO the Mess'n
90, mus, he addressed To THOMAS w. WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va