The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-08
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
rHoMAs W. WHITE, EDITOR AND rRopRIEToR.

TSHIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly 10 literature but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope Of Sciences and not
protesting entire dsdain OF tasteful selections though
It's matter has been, it will continue to be, in the MAN.
original
Party politics and controversial heooey as far as pos
sible, jealousy excluded They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science,
otherwise unobjectonable gain admttance 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
not well be severed from the sterling whereWith it is
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 condensed
FORM such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works revewedo direct the readers
attention TO books that deserve be read-and
him against wasting time and money upon that large num-
Der, which merit only to be burned In this age Of publ
caons that by their variety and multitude distract and
overahelm every undscriminating student, impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned is OF
the most inesmable and indispensable Of auxliaries
him who does wish TO discriminate.
Essays and Tales having in utility amusement
or both,-Historcal Sketches,--and "reminiscences OF
events too minute for history yet Calculating it, and height
enng its interest be regarded forming the staple
Of the work And of Indigenous poetry, enough is pub
shed-sometimes of strain-to 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 feversh and irrtated still, from recent political strles
The soft, assuasve influence Of literature is needed to
allay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
rotng abroad: They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by rdicule, into their fitting hauns,
Ignorance lords it immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set IN notion to arouse
the enlightened and increase their numbers that the
great enemy Of popular government may no longer brood
like porentous cloud, the destinies Of country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent can be employed than periodical the plan
the Messenger II 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
81 nj r
least 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 NJ least equality with our ore-
hrcn; and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords II choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
twas from deep sense Of this local want that The
word SOUTHERN engrafted on the name OF this
periodical and not with any design to noursh local pre-
JUDGES, advocate supposed local interests Far IRON
such thought il is the editors eryent wish TO see the
North and South bound endearngly together forever IN
the silken bands of mutual kindness and affection ar
from mcditating hostility TO the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much OF his choicest
matter thence ano happy indeed Will he deem hinsen,
should his pages by making each region know the other
better, contribute in any essential degree to dspei inc
lowering clouds TINT threaten the peace OF both and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties oil ia'ernA'
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No Of its third volume How far has acted out the
ideas here uttered. it is for the editor 10 lie
believes however that il falls further short of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short 2.
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number Of the
work contains 81 large superroya pages printed IN the
very handsomest manner, type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical IS
printed in country.
No subscription viii be received for less than avolume
and must commence with the current one The price -
IS per volume which must be paid in all nj the time
OF subscribing This is particularly advened to now TO
avoid misapprehenson or future Observation-Disclosures
no order will hereafter he attended 10 unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription
The postage on the Messenger six cents any sin
gle No for all distances under 100 mosover 100 miles
ten cents
All communications or letters, relative TO the Messcn
ger, mnst be addressed to TnoMAs w. WHITE.
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va