The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-17
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER
THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR

THOMAS W. WHITE. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE devoted
i chiefly to literature, but occasionally finding nom
for articles that fall within the scope OF Science and not
processing entire disdan Of tasteful selections ouc
IT'S matter has been, as It will continue TO be- the
original.
Party politics and controversial theology far as pos
sble are jealousy excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral
otherwise anobjectionabe, to gain admittance
sake OF the more valuable matter to which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only
primary They are dross, tolerated only because II
not we'll be severed from the sterling wherewith
incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due spa
in the work and it is the editors aim that they shou
have threefold tendency-to convey in a condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reyiewedio direct the. readers
attention to books that deserve to be read land
him against wasting time and money upon that large
Der, which merit only to be burned In this age of publ
cations that by her variety and multitude distract and
overahelm every undiscrimnating student impartial
criticism, governed by the views just mentioned Of
the most nestimabe and Indispensable of auxiares,
him who does wish TO discriminate
Essays and Tales having in view utility amusement
OF both,-ffistoncal Sketches-and "reminiscences OF
events too minute for history yet calculating it, and height
ening interestingly lie regarded as forming the staple
OF the work. And Of indigenous poetry, enough is pub
Understandings Of no mean strain--to manifest and TO
cultivate the growing poetical taste and talents Of our
country.
The times appear for several reasons, demand
work-and not one alone, but many. The public mind
is leversh and irated still, from recent political stres
The Soft influence of literature is needed
alay that fever, and soothe that Vice and folly
rio,ing abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by rdicue into their fitting haunfs-
Ignorance lords il immense proportion Of our
people Every spring should be set in notion TO arouse
The enlightened and 10 increase their number 50 that the
great enemy Of popular government may no longer rooa
like porenious cloud the destines OF our country
And TO accomplish NIL these ends, what powerful
agent can be employed than periodical on the plan OF
the Messenger il that plan he but carried out in practice
III. oxlx In all
the non south Of Washington, there are but two literary
periodicals. Nohward Of thai city, there probably al
least twenty-five thirty Ii this contrast lustlhed by
the wealth. the leisure. the native talent or the actual
literary Of the Southern people, compared with those
Of the Northern Mo- for in wealth. talents, and TASTE
may Justly claim a, least an equality with our pre-
,hren; and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt affords We choose, twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
Il was from a deep sense Of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN was engnfted on the name OF TINS
periodical and not with any design Dourish local pre-
udces advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought il is the editors ervent wish to see the
North and South bound endearIngy together forever ID
the sken bands OF mutual kindness and affection Far
from medtating hostility to the North, he has already
drawn he hopes hereafter draw much Of his choicest
thence; ano happy indeed win he deem himself,
should his pages by making each region know the other
better contribute any essential degree to dspel the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of BOTH and
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF raternaI
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached the
fifth No Of its third volume How far it has acted out the
ideas here uttered is not for the editor to say He
believes however that falls not further short OF them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short Of
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number OF the
work contains 81 large supeTroya printed IN the
yery handsomest manner, type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical is
printed in country.
No subscription win he received for less than avolune
and must commence with the current The price
SIS per volume which must be paid in all casesat the time
Of subscribing This is particularly adverted 10 no" TO
avoid misrepresentation or fsar misuntie rstanding
no order win hereafter he attended unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage the Messenger cents on any SIN
gle No for all distances nde mliesover 100 miles.
ten cents. .
All communications or letters, relative TO the MessFn
90, 'unst he addressed to THOMAS w. WHITE.
Sonrhern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond Va