Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-02-05
Prospectus Of The a
Southern Literary Messenger.

Southern Literary Messenger. 3
T.w WHITE, EDIToR AND PROPRIETOR.
TNHIS is a monthly Magazine, devoted
| IL chiefly to Literature, but occasionally
finding room also for articles that fan within
the scope of Science and not protesting an
entire disdain of tasteful selections, though its
matter has been as it viii continue to be, in
the main original.
Party Politics and controversial Theology
as far as possible, are iealously excluded
They are sometimes so blended with discus
sions inliterature or in moral science, other
wise unobjectionable, as to gain admittanee
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
| hotwell be severed from the sterling ore where
with it is Incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their
| due space in the work !; and It is the editors
| aim that they should have d 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
read add to warn him against wasting time
and money upon that large number, which
merit only to be burned. In this age, of publi-
cations that by their variety and multitude dis
| tract and overwheim every ndiscriminatinu
student, impartial criticism governed BY the
views aforementioned, is one of the most inesti-
mable and Indispensable of auxiharies, to him
who does wish to discriminate
Essays, and Tales, having in view utility or
amusement, or both-Historicel Sketches
and "reminiscences of too minute for History,
yet. calculating it and heightening its inter-
est,-may be regarded as forming the staple
Of the work. And of Indigenous Poetry,
enough is published-sometimes of no mean
strain-to manifest and to cultivate the grow
mg poetry taste and talents of our coun-
try. g4H{8.s kxfG q KfE SE1#1 "a =
The time appears, for several reasons, To
demand such awUrk: andnot one alone, but
many. The public mind is feverish andirrita-
ted still, from recent political strifes. The
soft assuasNe influence of Literature is needed
toallay that Fever and smoothe that irritation.
Vice and folly are rioting abroad: they should
be driven by indignant rebuke, or lashed by
ridicnle, into their fitting hadnts. 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 eDf ino5ular
governm6ntmay no longer brood Ike a nor.
tentous cloud over the destines of our country.
And to.aeeomplsh all these ends, what more
powerful agent can be employed, than aperi-
odical, on the plan Of the Messenger if that
plan be but carried out in practice
The South peculiarly requires such an agent.
In all the Union, south of Washington, there
are but two literary periodicals.! Woodward
of that city, there probably areat least tWeu-
ty-tiEe or thirty! is this contrast justified bv
the wealth, the leisure. the native talent, or the
actual literary taste, of the Southern people.
compared with those of the Northern? No:
form wealth, talents and taste, we NAV Justly
clam at least an equality with our brethren;
and domestic institution exclusively our own.
beyond all doubt, affords US, if we choose, twice
tne leisure for reading and writing which they
twas from a deep sense of this local want
thas the il word Southern was engrafted on this
ish local prejudices ;e0rto advocate snppos al
local interests. Far from any such tborIsrbt 4
IS the editors feFvent wish to see the Nortb |
and South bound endearingly together forever
~ the sllken bands of mutual kindness and 81. I
lection, Far from fneditating hostility "a tbe
North, he has already drawn, and ne homes
therefore to draw nluchof his choicest matter
thence and happv indeed viii be deem nm
SCI, should hls pages By making each reCiop.
Know tne other better, contribute, n anv ses-
ssntia az % dlspel the lowering clouds
|, la now threaten the peace Of both and "a
3iPgnsen and strengthen the sacred ties of "a.
teE las4 loves - {TSf1 #HHsnfsT
Inc Southern Literary Messenger has iaovs
IePehsd the No .kof the third volume
now lar It has acted out the ideas here uttered
g not for the editor 70 say. He BELIEVES baS.
sVeFs that It aIsnot further Short e fl,e7a
human, Eeakness usaally 4nalses PFactiee
short of Theory. s.
I CONEfTIONS.
I. The Southern Literary MesseTo gg;s
su9tsl1ea " monthly numbers. Of laree sl,-
4 81 octave pages EACH on the best az IS
~, alla neatl covered, at So year, pavable
- NJ hHe new suhscnbers-bg sendina tha;-
lanes and twenty dollars &C oiie 81 = r -
II fSsWll eceipe hen copies fer tne
q that sum, Or at 4 dollars FIR each
!. 2. 1he tlals q lbss.0f payments FOR subscr;n
ions which have been properly conn - =.
ne NAL Or the hands Of 3 postmaster.
llaed bgI tl1 editor 8K r. 81 ~
q If suh ption 81 a., = 49,
o4tlnsied li FIST Ili 81 - ,, ~,
qsll.e has been published. It win Sc - .'sss ]
colisinuallce Ibs.S
z vs. commence with tie beeinn;h s. +
Qlane, and win not be Ken ioi sl
ear g .pu1ledtl0H. 81 f
{ 2. he mutual obligations Of tie pS6 y
81 sapsskiee aI tHe yeal are fIv inc s
oon IS fle fst q IIl "a 81 ia
and after thar time, 10 sIsc6n s',,,,s
su1geFl Be permitted.
g.lon g g. eon1nued for ann -svl:.s..
re aile any thing thereon f
ness
Globes.
80
IA money
IS. 90 eoDias al Is. 3