The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-09
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,
THOMAS ". WHITE. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

v.
THIS IS A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly to literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope OF Science and not
protesting an entire dsdan of tasteful selections though
IFS matter has BEEN as viii continue to be- IN The main
original.
Party politics and controversial theology, as far as pos
sible, are jealousy excluded. They are sometimes so
blended with discussions literature moral science
otherwise unobeconabe, to gain Abundance or the
sake Of The valuable matter TO which they adhere
bu. wheneys that happens they are ,ns,de".a only rot
well be severed from the sterling ore ~herewh 1t
incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space
in the work and it is the editors aim that they should
have threeiold tendency--to convey in condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reviewed. direct the readers
attention books that deserve be read, and
him against wasting time and money upon that large nun
ber which merit only TO be burned In this Of puhl
cations that by their variety and multitude distract and
overMhem every Understanding student, impartial
criticism, governed by the views just mentioned Of
the most inesmable and indispensable Of auxiaries
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales, having in viewutily amusement
or both,-llisorlcal Sketches,-and "reminiscences Of
events too minute for history, yet Calculating it, and height
enng its inerestmay he regarded forming the staple
of the work. And Of Indigenous poetry, enough is pub
lished-sometimes of stran-to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetlcal taste and talents OF our
country. ."..
The times appear for several reasons to demand such
a work-and not alone but many The public mind
is eversh and rtaied STILL from recent political strtes
aay that fever and soohe that irritation Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by rdicule into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords II over an immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should he set in motion, to arouse
the enlightened and to increase their number; that the
enemy Of popular may longer brood,
like porientous cloud, the destines of our country
And 10 accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent be employed than periodical on the plan OF
the Messenger If that plan be but carried out in practce
The South, peculiarly, requires snch agent In all
periodicals Northward OF that CITY, there probably
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 bre
hren and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond sl doubt affords if choose. twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
II was from deep sense OF this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN was engrafted the Of this
periodical and not with any design to noursh local pre-
JUDGES to advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought is the editors fervent wish to the
North and South bound endearngy together forever, IN
the slken bands of mutual kindness and affection Far
from meditatng hostility to the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes to draw much OF his choicest
matter thence; ano happy indeed will he deem himself,
should his pages by making each region know the other
better contribute in essential degree to dispe the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of BOTH and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF faerna
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No of its third volume. How far it has acted out the
ideas here uttered it is not for the editor to He
believes however, that it falls 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 GA large superroya pages printed in the
very handsomest manner, 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 commence with the current one. The price is
SIS per volume which must be paid in all the time
Of subscribing. This particularly adverted TO
avoid misrepresentation, future Observation-Disclosures
order will hereafter he attended unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage on the Messenger is six cents any sin
gle No for all distances under 100 mlcs-over loo miles,
ten cents.
All communications or letters relative the Messen-
ger, must he addressed to THOMAS w. WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va