The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-15
PROSPECTUS OF THE
8 SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

THOMAS W. WHITE EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
TNHIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
Il chiefly 10 literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and
protesting entire dsdain Of tasteful selections though
lis matter has been. viii continue TO be, in the man
Party politics and controversial theology far pos
sible, jeaously excluded They are sometimes SO
blended with discussions in literature moral science,
otherwise unobectionable as To gain admance for the
sake OF the more valuable matter to which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only
primary. They dross, tolerated only because it
not well be severed from the sterling wherewith
incorporated Ell #s- TT 4@tt Sa E2a
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
In the work and is the edi,oss aim that they should
have a threefod tendency--to convey in condensed
FORM such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reyiewed,to direct the readers
attention TO books that deserve to be read,and to
him against wasting time and money upon that large
Der, which merit only TO be burned In this age OF pub
cations that by Their variety and multitude distract and
criticism governed by the views just mentioned Of
the most inesmable and indispensable Of auxliares
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales having in view utility
or BOTH --Hisorical Sketches,-and "reminiscences Of
events too minute for history yet Calculating it, and height
enng its Interestingly be regarded forming the staple
Of the work And Of Indigenous poetry, enough is pub
hshed-sometimes of strain-to manifest and 10
cultivate the growing poetcal taste and talents Of our
country ,tsst#&
The times appear for several reasons demand such
work--and not alone, but many. The public mind
IS feversh and irtated still, from political stncs
The soft assuasiye influence Of literature is needed to
alay that fever, and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
riotng abroad They should be driven by indignant
rcbuke dashed by rdicule into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords it over immense proportion OF our
people. Every spring should be set in notion to arouse
the enlightened and increase their numbers so that The
great enemy of popular government may no longer brood
like portenous cloud, the destines Of country
And TO accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent can be employed than periodical on the plan
the Messenger 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
periodicals Norhward Of that city, there are probably at
least twontyh thirty Is this contrast justified by
the wealth, the leisure. the native talent the actual
literary of the Southern people, compared with those
of the Northena No. for in wealth, talents, and taste,
we may justly claim at least equality with our bre-
thren and domestic institution exclusively own,
beyond all doubt affords if choose, twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they ENJOY.
Il was from deep of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN enerafed on the name OF THIS
periodical and not with any design to noursh local pre-
JUDGES advocate supposed local interests Far IRON
any such thought il is the editors fervent wish TO the
North and South bound cndearngy together forever IN
the sken bands Of mutual kindness and Affection fsr
from medating hostility TO the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much OF hrs choicest
matter thence happy indeed will he deem himself
his % m ss.e entn degree 10 as T p S
lowering clouds that threaten the peace oil BOTH and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF aternal
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No OF its third volume How far it has acted the
ideas here uttered + : no, for he editor to say lie
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
theory. H9fg te l+e3tE IL : 81 s,..r
The Messenger is issued monthly, Each number Of the
work contains 81 large superroyal pages printed in the
very handsomest manner, on new type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical is
printed in country ~ #te.4H
No subscription viii be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current The price Is
IS per volume, which must be paid in a 1.-THE time
of subscribing This is particularly adserted 10 nowio
avoid misapprehension, future nisunderstandlnghs
order viii hereafter be 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 mlesoyer 100 mics
ten cents.
All communications or letters relative 10 the Messon
ger must be addressed TO $50 Thomas w. White
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond Va