Southern Argus., 1839-07-30
Prosps ctus Of the
Southern Literary Messenger.
T. W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.


ENHIS is a monthly Magazine, devoted
| 4 chiefly to Literature, but occasionally
| finding room also for articles that fall within
the scope of Science; and not protesting al
entire disdaIn of tasteful selections, thoughts
matter has been as It viii continue to be, II
the main original
Party Politics and controversial Theology
as far as possible, are jealously excluded
They are sometimes so blended with discus
sions inhterature 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 1t is the editor
aim that they should have threefold tenden-
| cY-to convey in condensed form, such valu-
able truths or interesting incidents as are en-
| bodied In the works reviewed,-to direct the
readers attention to books that deserve to be
ead,-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 oyerwhelm every undiscrminating
student, impartial criticism governed by the
views justmentioned, is one OF the most inesti-
mable and indispensable of auxilaries, TO him
who does wish to discriminate.
Essays, and Fafes, having in view utility or
amusement, or both--Historicel Sketches
and "reminiscences Of too minute for His orr,
YET calculating it and heightening IT'S inter-
est,-may be regarded as forming the staple
af bn Id e
enough is published-sometiInes of no mean
strain-,o manifest and 70 cultivate the grow
ing poetry taste and talents of our coun.
try.
The time appears, for several reasons, TO
demand such work and not one alone, but
many. The public mind is feverish and irrita-
ted still, from recent political strifes. The
soft assuasive influence OF lite ature 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
ridcule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance
lords it over an immense proportion of our peo-
pie. Every spring should be set IN motion, to
arouse the enlightened, and to increase their
number; so that the great enemy of popular
government may no longer brood, Ike a por-
tentous cloud over the destines of our country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more
powerful agent can be employed, than aReri-
odcal, on the plan of the Messenger; if that
plan be but carried out in practice?
The South peculiarly requires such an agent.
In all he Union, south of Washington, there
are but two literary periodicals.? Northward
of that city. there probably are at least twen-
ty-fve Or thirty Is this contrast iusts6ed by.
the wealth, the leisure. the native talent. on the
actual literary taste, of the Southern people,
with those of the Northern! No:
for in wealth, talents and taste, we NAV Justly
claim at least an equality with cur brethren;
and domestic institution exclusively our ovn.
beyond all doubt, affords US, if we choose, twice
the leisure for reading and writing which they
enjoy.
ltwas from deep sense of this local -.5.
that the word Southern was enrrsfred ON tb;s
periodical; and not with a-1sy design to nonr-
lsh local Prejudices: or to advocate surpassed
locai lnteresrs, Far from any such thought, it
IS tae eIItor's fervent wish to see the North
Ed South bound endearingly together forever,
IL the sllken bands of mutual kindness and af-
lection. Far from meditating hostility to the
North, he has already drawn, and he hopes
therefore to draw much of his choicest matter
thence: and happr indeed viii he deem him.
sell, should his pages, by making each region
know the other better, contribute in anv es-
sential degree to dispel the lowering clouds
that now threaten the peace of both, and to
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of fra
ternal love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now
reached the lIth No of the third volume.
How far it has acted out the ideas here uttered.
is not for the editor to say. He believes. how
ever that It falls not further short of them, than
human weakness usually makes Practice fall
short of Theory.
CONDITIONS.
|. The Southern Literary Messenger IS
published in monthly numbers, of 81 large su-
perroyal octave pages each, on the best of pa
per, andneatly covered, at $5 year, payable
in advance.
2. Or FIVE new subscribers by sending their
names and twenty dollars at one time TO the
editor, viii receive their copies for one year.
for that sum, or at 4 dollars for each.
B. The risk ofloss of payments for subscrip-
tloss, which have been properly committed to
the mail; or the hands Of postmaster, is as
sumed BY the editor.
: a. If a subscription is not directed to be dis
continued before the first number of the next
velume has been published, it viii be taken as
a continuance for another year. Subscriptions
must commence with the beginning of the
volume. and win not be taken for less than a
years publication.
5. The mutual obligations of the publisher
and subscriber, for the year, are fully incurred
as soon as the first number of the volume is
issued; and after that time, no dscontinuance
Of subscription VIII be permitted. Nor win
a subscription be discontinued for any earlier
notice, while any thing thereon remains due.
unless at the option Of the editor