The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-15
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.

THOMAS W. WHITE EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
T,HIs is MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
ss mat S Ss IF s
processing entire dsdain OF tasteful seeon though
its matter has been, will continue to be, in main
original.
Party politics and controversial theology as far ms pos
sible, are jeaously excluded They sometimes
blended with discussions literature moral science.
otherwise unobectionabe as to gain abundance for the
sake Of the valuable matter to which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only
primary They are dross tolerated only because il
not well be severed from the sterling wherewith it is
incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and it is the editors aim that they should
have a threefold tendency-to convey in condensed
FORM such valuable truths interesting Incidents
embodied in the works reviewedto direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be adand
him against wasting time and money upon that large
ber which merit only be burned In this age OF publ.
cations that by fhefr variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every undiscTimnating student impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned Of
the most nestmable and indispensable Of auxliaries
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in viewutity amusement,
or both-Historical Sketches,-and "reminiscences of
events too minute for history yet calculating it, and height
enng its be regarded forming the staple
Of the work And of Indigenous poetry, enough ID pub
UNDERSTANDINGS OF no mean strain--to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetca taste and talents Of
country.
The times appear for several reasons to demand such
a work-and alone, but many. The public mind
is feversh and irrated still, from recent political srifes:
The soft, assuasve influence Of literature is needed, to
alay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
riotng abroad: They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by ndicne, into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords it an immense proportion Of
people Every spring should he set in notion to arouse
the enlightened and increase their number that the
great enemy of popular may longer brood,
like porentous cloud the destnies OF country
And to accomplish all these ends what more powerful
agent can be employed than PERIODICAL on the plan o.
the Messenger If 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
al.
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 at least equality with our be-
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords u.s. we choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing which they enjoy.
1t from deep sense Of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN engrafed the name Of this
perodical and not with any design to nourish local pre-
udices advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought is the editors event wish to see the
North and South bound cndearngy together forever IN
the silken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from meditatng hostility to the North he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much Of his choicest
matter thence happy indeed will he deem himself,
should his pages by making each region know the other
better contribute any essential degree to dspe the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of BOTH and
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of fraterna
love. E
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No Of its third volume How far il has acted out the
ideas here uttered it is not for the editor TO say He
believes however, that il 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 81 large superroya pages printed in the
very handsomest manner, on new type, and on paper
equal least to that which any oiber periodical is
printed in country
No subscription will be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current The price ~
IS per volume which must be paid all cases at the time
Of subscribing. This is particularly adverted 10 now to
avoid misrepresentation future Observation-Disclosures
no order will hereafter he attended 10 unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage the Messenger is six cents on any SIN
gle No for all distances under l00miles-over 100 miles
ten cents.
All communications letters, relative TO the Messen
90, rnn., he addressed to THOMAS w. WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond va