The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-17
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER

THOMAS W. WHITE EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
THIS is MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly 10 literature, but occasionally finding room
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and mo,
protesting entire disdan Of tasteful ssetons though
It's matter has been, as 1t will continue be- in the main
original
slble, jealousy excluded. They are Sometimes M
blended with discussions in literature or in moral seenc
otherwise unobeetionabe, gain admance for ths
sake OF the more valuable matter 10 which thew adhere
but whenever that happens they are incidental only no,
primary They dross tolerated only because il can
not well be severed from the sterling wherewith il is
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due spac
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 AS are
embodied in the works reyewed-to direct the readers
attention to books that deserve be read-and 10 warn
him against wasting time and money upon that large num-
Der, which merit only to be burned In this age OF publ
cations, that by her variety and multitude distract and
oveTw helm every undscrminating student impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned is Of
the most nestimable and indispensable Of auxiares
him who does wish TO discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility amusement
or boh,-Historieal Sketohes,-and "reminiscences Of
events minute for history yet calculating and height
ening its nterest-may be regarded forming the staple
of the work. And Of Indigenous poetry, enough pub
lished-sometimes Of no mean srain-to manifest and
cultivate the growing poeca taste and talents Of
country.
The times appear for several reasons, to demand such
a work-and not one alone, but many. The public mind
is feverish and ritaed STILL from political strfes
The Soft assuasive influence OF literature is needed,
aay that fever and soohe that irritation. Vice and folly
are rioting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke dashed by rdicule, into their fitting haun
Ignorance lords it over an immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set IN notion to arouse
the enightened and their NUMBER SO that the
great enemy of popular government may longer brood
like porentous cloud, the destines OF our country
And TO accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent can be employed than periodical on the plan o.
the Messenger Il 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 Northward Of that city, there probably
least twenty thirty Is this justified by
the wealth, the leisure the native talent the actual
literary Of the Southern people, compared with those
Of the Northern No: for In wealth, talents, and taste,
we may Justly claim at least an equality with our bre
thren and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords we choose, twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
II from deep Of this local want that the
word SOUTHERN engrafted on the of this
periodical and not with any design to noush local pre-
udces to advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought is the editors feent wish to the
North and South bound endearngly together forever,
the siken bands of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medating hostility to the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much OF his choicest
matter thence; ana happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know the other
better contribute in any essential degree to dspel the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace of BOTH and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties oil aserna
love
fifth No of its third volume How far has acted out the
ideas here uttered is not for the editor to He
believes however, that falls not further short Of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number OF the
work contains GA large superroya pages printed In The
very handsomest manner, new type, and on papei
equal least to that which any other periodical is
printed in country.
No subscription will be received for less than avoume
and must commence with the current The price
SIS per volume which must be paid all cases at the time
of subscribing This is particularly adverted to no" to
avoid msapprehension, or future misunderstandingas
no order will hereafter he attended to unless accompanied
with the price of subscription.
The postage the Messenger is six cents any sin
Gle No for all distances under 100 miesover 100 miles
| ten cents. :.
All communications or letters, relative to the Messen
GER must be addressed to THOMAS W WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va