The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-01-30
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER
THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS IS MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
for articles that fall within the scope OF Science and not
protesting entire disdan Of tasteful selections, though
its matter has been will continue TO be- in the MAN,
| original.
Party politics and controversial theology as far as pos
sble, jealously excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science
otherwise unobeconable, to gain admittance for the
sake Of the valuable matter 10 which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they incidental only
not well be severed from the sterling wherewith
| incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and is the editors aim that they should
have threeiold tcndency-to convey In condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reviewedto direct the readers
attention 10 books that deserve to be and to
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only to be burned In this age Of publ
cations that by tner variety and multitude distract and
oyer"hem every Understanding student, impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned OF
the nestimabe and indispensable Of auxiliares
him who does wish to discriminate
Essays and Tales, having view utility amusement
or both-Historical Sketches,-and "reminiscences of
events too minute for history yet elucidatng it, and height
ening its interestingly he regarded forming the staple
Of the work. And Of Indigenous poetry, enough pub
lished-somctimes OF stran--to manifest and TO
cultivate the growing poetica taste and talents OF our
country.
The times appear for several reasons demand such
a work-and no, alone, but many The public mind
is everish and irritaed STILL from political stfc
The soft, assuasive influence Of literature needed, TO
aay that fever and soohe that irritation Vice and folly
are roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by ridcue, into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords it immense proportion Of our
people Every spring should be set in motion, TO arouse
the enlightened and TO increase their number so that the
great Of popular longer brood,
like portcntous cloud the dcstines Of country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
be employed than periodical, the plan
the Messenger that plan be but carried in practice
The South peculiarly, requires such agent. In all
the Uuion 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,
may Justly claim ut least equality with our brc-
thren and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords u.s. if choose, twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
II was from deep Of this local want, that The
word SOUTHERN engRtted on the name Of THIS
periodical and not with any design TO noursh local pre-
uces advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought the editors ervent wish to the
North and South bound endearngy together forever IN
the sken bands Of mutual kindncss.and Affection far
from medating hostility TO the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes draw much oil his choicest
thence; happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know me oner
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of both, and
10 brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of ateral
love 80
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No OF its third volume How far it has acted the
ideas here uttered 1t is not for the editor say lie
believes however that il falls not further short of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short o.
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number Of the
work contains 81 large superroya pages pra,ed in the
very handsomest manner, type, and paper
equal at least TO that which any other periodical is
printed in our country
No subscription will he received for less than volume,
and must commence with the current one. The price ~
IS per volume which be paid in all cases at the time
Of subscribing This is particularly advered to now TO
avoid Misrepresentation, future misundersianding-as
no order will hereafter attended to unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage on the Messenger is six cents any sin
gle No for all distances under 100 milesoyor 100 miles
ten cents.
All communications letters, relative the Messch
ger must be addressed 10 THOMAS W WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond va