The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-10
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,

| THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, deyo 4
i chiefly to literature, but occasionally finding room
for articles that fall within the scope OF Science and no,
protesting entire disdan Of tasteful seieeoes hous
its matter has been, il viii continue be, the maj
original
Party politics and controversial theology as far as pos
sibe, are jealously excluded. They are sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral
otherwise unobjectionable to gain Abundance rt
sake of the more valuable matter to which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only
primary, They doss, tolerated only because
not well be severed from the sterling ore ~here~hh
Incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy the, due spa
in the work and it is the editors aim that they shout
have threefod. tendency-to convey in a condensed
FORM such valuable truths interesting incidents MS are
embodied in the works reviewed. direct the readers
attention TO books that deserve be read and 10
him against wasting time and money upon shat large
ber which merit only to be burned In this age OF publ.
cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
overmhelm ever, undiscrimnating student, impartial
criticism, governed by the views mentioned one OF
the nestimabe and Indispensable of auxiliaes, to
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in view utility amusement
or bofh-Historical Sketches,-and "reminiscences OF
minute for history, yet calculating it, and height
enng its interestingly be regarded as forming the staple
Of the work. And Of Indigenous poetry enorgh is pub
llshed-sometimes OF no mean stranto manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetca taste and talents OF our
country. r.@
The times appear for several reasons to demand such
a work--and not alone, but many. The public mind
IS feverish and rrtated STILL from recent political strtes
The soft, assuasve influence of literature is needed TO
alay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
riotDg abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke or dashed by ndicule, into their fitting haunts.
Ignorance lords it over immense proportion of
the enlightened and TO increase their number SO thai the
great enemy OF popular government may no longer brood,
like portentous cloud the destnes Of country
And to accomplish all these ends, what powerful
agent be employed thnn periodical the plan OF
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, thsre 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 Mo- for in wealth, talents and taste,
may Justly claim at least an equality with our bre-
thren and domestic institution exclusively own,
beyond all doubt affords il choose, twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
II was from deep OF this local want that the
word SOUTHERN engraAed on the name of this
periodical and not with any design to noursh local
udces or to advocate supposed local Far from
such thought is the editors feven wish to see the
North and South bound endearngy together forever IN
the sken bands of mutual kindness and affection Far
from medatng hostility to the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw mach Of his choicest
matter thence; ano 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. -
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached tn.
fifth No of its third volume. How far it has acted the
ideas here uttered, II not Tor the editor TO say lie
believes however that il falls further short Of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short OF
theory
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number o. the
work contains 81 large supcrroya pages printed in the
very handsomest manner, on new type, and on paper
equal mt least to that on which any ohe, periodical
printed in country.
No subscription win be received for less than volume,
and commence with the current one. The pnce IS
IS per volume which must be paid in a cases at the tune
Of subscribing This particularly adverted to TO
avoid misapprehenson, future misunderstanding
no order viii hereafter he attended unless accompanied
with the price Of Subscription.
The postage the Messenger cents on any SIN
gle No for an distances undc miles-over TOO miles.
ten cents.
All communications OF letters, yela,ye to the Messrr
GER must be addressed TO THOMAS w. White
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va