Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-03-05
Prospectus Of the
Southern Literary Messenger.


T. w. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS is monthly Magazine, devoted
4 chiefly to Literature, but occasionally
finding room also for articles that fall within
the scope of Science and not protesting an
entire disdain Of tasteful selections, thoughts
matter has been as it will continue to be, in
the main original.
Party Politics and controversial Theology,
as far as possible, are jealously excluded. |
They are sometimes so blended with discus
sions in literature or in moral science, other
wise unobjectionable, as to gain admittance
for the sake of the more valuable matter to
which they adhere: but whenever that hap
pens, they are incidental only not primary.
They are dross tolerated Only because it can
not well be severed from the sterling ore where
with it is Incorporated.
Review and Critical Notices occupy their
due space in the work and it is the editors
aim that they should have threefold tenden-
cy-to convey in a condensed form, such valu-
able truths or interesting incidents as are en-
bodied in the works reviewed. direct the
readers attention to books that deserve to be
read,-add to warn him against wasting time
and money upon that large number, which
merit only to be burned. in this age, of publ
cations that by their variety and multitude dis
tract and overwhelm every undscnminatng
student, impartial criticism governed by the
views justmentioned, is one of the most inesti
mable and indispensable Of auxlliaries, tohin
who does wish to discriminate,
Essays, and Tales, having inview utility Oh
amusement, or both-HistOricel Sketches
and "reminiscences of too minute for History
yet calculating it and heightening ITS inter
est,-rnay be regarded as forming the staple
of the work. And of Indigenous Poetry
enough is NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of no NEAR
strain-to manifest and to cultivate the grow.
| ing poetry taste and talents of our cOun
try.
The time appears, for several reasons, tt
demand such work: andnot one alone, bu
many. The public mind is feverish and irrita
ted still, from recent political strifes. The
soft assuasiVe influence of literature is needed
to allay that fever and smoothe that irritation
Vice and folly are rioting abroad: they should
be driven by indignant rebuke, or lashed By
ridicule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance
lords It over an immense proportion of our peo-
| pie. Every spring should be set In motion, tC
arouse the enlightened, and to increase theil
number; so that the great enemy of popular
government may no longer brood, like por.
And to accomplish all these ends, what more
powerful agent can be employed, than pen,
odical, on the plan of the Messenger; if thai
plan be but carried out In practices
The South peculiarly requires such an agent
In all the Union, south of Washington, there
are but two literary periodicals. NorthwarC
of that city, there probably are at least TWEEN.
| ty-five or thirty! Is this contrast justified by
the wealth. the leisure. the native talent, or the
actual literary taste, 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 brethren
and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt, affords US, if we choose, twice
the leisure for reading and writing which they
enjoy. ~
It was from deep sense of this local want
that the word Southern was engrafted on this
periodical and not with any design to nour.
| lsh local prejudices or to advocate supposed
local interests. Far from any such thought, il
is the editor S feTvent wish to see the North
and South bound endearingly together forever,
IN the sllken bands of mutual kindness and af-
| lection. aEfrom meditating hostility to the
North, he has already drawn, and he hopes
therefore Co draw much of his choicest matter
thence: and happg indeed viii he deem him.
SELL should ms pages, by making each region
know the other better, contribute in any es.
sential degree to dispel the lowering clouds
that now threaten the peace of both. and n
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of fra
ternal love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now
reached the 1lth No of the third volume
How farit has a5ted out the ideas here uttered
IS not for the editor to say. He believes. how.
ever, that It falls not further short 81 them. * s.
human weakness usually makes Practice ri
shortof Theory
CONDITIONS
!. The Southern Literary MESSENGER 3
pubhshedi ii monthly numbers, Of 81 laTSs -.
perroyal octave pages each on the best q -.
per, and neatly covered, at IS q year, payable
ii advance
= Of I'VE new subscribers By sendin0 fhef
names and twenty dollars at one tine "a fbs
editor, VIII receive theireopies for one vear
for that sum, 81 81 dollars f1r ch
8. The risk los Of payments q. Sc IN.
tons, which have been properly c6r,f,;lfa5 :
the mail Of the hands 81 a posfr1asfef g 4
stunned BY Tie editor
transcription IS not fIfs1 "a q, r s.
continued before the first n1lnbet y 81 -
volume has been shed. Il ,ill - ~, s.
q Continuance lof ieE
must commence with the beuinnsoo. 81, ~
volume. and WI not Be eii ~ Ian s
years publication
q he atoms 81 no I,tr
and Gle year. als fIIllv inS
oan M e f qiber 81 rs
a4 a!teS tAa TIME. no
Ct pllen WI be bel MAJ
nq.ee nae thereon
unless As tAe optic1 oI fben