The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-06
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS W. WHITE. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR


THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly to literature but occasionally finding room
for articles that fall within the scope of Science and not
processing entire disdan of tasteful selections though
its matter has been it will continue to be- the maln
original.
Party politics and controversial theology, far pos
sble, are iealously excluded They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science,
otherwise unobectonable, to gain admiitance 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 il can
not well be severed from the sterling wherewh II IS
incorporated. III
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work; and 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 reviewed,-to direct the readers
attention to books that deserve to be readand to warn
him against wasting time and money upon that large num-
ber which merit only be burned In this age OF publ
cations that by ter variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every undlscriminatng student, impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned is one OF
the most inestmable and indispensable Of auxares, TO
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales having in vewutity amusement,
or both,-Historcal 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 is pub
lshed-somemes OF no mean srain-to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetlcal taste and talents oil our
country.
The times appear for several reasons, demand such
work-and not alone, but many. The public mind
is feversh and rrated STILL from recent political striies
The soft, assuasve influence of literature is needed to
allay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
riotng abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by rdicue, 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 that the
great enemy of popular government may no longer brood,
like poren,ous cloud the destines 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 but two literary
,haI1,
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 Mo- for in wealth. talents, and taste,
may Justly claim at least equality with bre-
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords us if We choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing which they enjoy.
1t from a deep of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN engrafted the name OF this
periodical and with any design nourish local pre-
judces advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought il is the editors ervent wish see the
North and South bound endearngly together forever,
the sken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medatirg hostility to the North he has already
drawn and he hopes draw much Of his choicest
matter thence; and 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
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of fratena
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No of it's third volume How far has acted the
ideas here uttered it is not for the editor to He
believes, however, That II tails not turlher snort oil thc
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short
theory
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number Of the
work contains Ga large super-roya 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.
No subscription will be received for less than volume
and must commence with the current one The pnce Is
IS per volume which be paid in all at the time
Of subscribing This is particularly advercd to now to
avoid msapprehenson, future msunderstandng--as
no Ordp W attended
with the price Of subscription.
The postage on the Messenger is six cets on any SIN
gle No for all distances under 100 mes-over ioo mies
ten cents.
All communications or letters relative to the Messen
ger, mus, be addressed to THoMAs ". WHITE;
Southern Literary Messenger Office Richmond va