The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1839-12-28
PROSPECTUS
OF THE
Southern Literary Messenger.
T. w. WHITE, Editor and Proprietor.
Dec. 6.

This is monthly Magazine, devoted chiefly 10
Literature, but occasionally finding room also for
articles that fall within the scope of Science; and
not protesting entire disdan oftasteful selections,
though its matter has been, as it will continue to
be, in the MAN, original.
Party politics and controversial Theology, az
far as possible, are jealousy excluded They are
sometimes so blended with discussions in literature
or in moral science, otherwise unohj, ctOnabe, as
10 gain admitance fo the sake of the more valua-
lie matter to which they ADHERE but whenever that
happens, they are incidental, only not primary
They are dross, tolerated only because ii cannot
well he severed from tho stcrlidg wherewith is
Incorporated.
Reviews, and Critical Notices, occupy THAR duo
spree in the work. and il is fe Editors aim tIa
they should have threef,d tendency-to convey,
in condensed FORM such valuable truths inter-
estng incidents as are embodied in the works re-:
yieweL, TO direct the readers attention TO books
that deserve 10 he read and To warn him against
wasting time and money upon that large number,
which merit only to be burned. In this ag", OF pub
icatons that by their variety and multitude distract
and ovcrwhelln every un'scri mating student, i'm.
partial criticism, governed by the views just
toned it is one Of the most incstin able and inds-
pensable of auxilarics, TO him who does wish to
discriminate.
Essays, an Tales, having in view utility or
amusement, or both Historical Sketches-and Re-
miniscences of events too minute for History, yet
elucid ting it, and hpightening its interest -usy
be regarded as forming the staple Of The work And
of Indigenous Poetry, enough is puhlished-solne-
times of mean strain-to manifest and to cuti-
vate the growing poctical taste and ta!ents Of
country.
The times appear, for several reasons, to demand
such a work-and not one alone but many. The
public mind is .eycrish and rriiaied still, from re.
cent political strifes:--The soft, assuasire influence
T. T .l.lt all sL,SC
sootle th.t irritation. Vice aud folly are r;oing
abroad:-Thcy should be drivenb by indignant rebuke
or lashed by ridiculc into their fitting hsunts lg-
norancc lords it over an immense proportion nf
prope:-Every spring should be set in mo,ion,to
arouse the culghten,d q and to increase their num-
ber SO thit he great enemy OF popular government
may no longer brood, like a portentous cloud over
the desnes Of our country. Andto accomplish all
these ends, what sowerful agent can be employ
ed, than periodical, on the plan of the Messensei
if that plan he carried out in practice?
The South peculiarly requires such an agent. In
all the Union, south of Washington, there are but
two Literary publications. Nortliward Of that city,
there are probably OF least twenty five or thirty Is
this contrast justified by the wealth, the leisure, the
native talent, or tie actual literary taste, Of tie
Southern people, compared with those OF tic North
crn? No: for in wealth, talents, and taste, we may
Justly claim at least equality with our brethren;
and a domestic institution exclusively our own, be.
III
leisure for reading and writing, which they en-
joy.
It was from deep sense Of this local want, that
the word Southern was engrafted the name of
this periodical, and not with any design 10 nourish
local prrudices to advocate supposed local inter-
ests Far from any such thought, it is the Editors
flrvent wish to see the North and South bound en-
dcarlngly together forever, in the siken bands Of
mutual kindness and affection. Far from medita
ting hostility to the north, he has already drawn,
and he hopes hereafter TO draw, much of his choi-
cest matter thence: and happy inde, will he deem
himself, should his pages, by making each region
know the other better, contribute in any essential
degree to dispcl the lowering clouds that thren-
ten the peace of BOTH and 10 ghten and strength
en- sacred ties of fraternal love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now
reached the May No of its fourth voIame. How
far has acted out the ideas here uttered is not for
the Editor TO say. He believes, however, that it
falls not further short Of thsn than human weak
ness usually makes Practice fall short Of Theory.
CONDITIONS.
l. The Southern Literary Messenger is publish
ed in monthly numbers, of Ga large superroya oc-
tavo pages each, on the best of paper, and neatly
covered, at is year-payable in advance.
9. Or FIVE new subscribers by sending their
names and 500 at one time to the editor, will re.
ceive their copies for one year for that sum, or at
81 fJr each.
g. The risk of loss of payments for subscriptions,
which have been properly committed to the mail,
or to the hands of postmaster, is assumed by the
editor.
4. Ifa subscription is not directed to be discon-
iinued before the first lumber of the next volume
has been published, it will be taken q continu-
ance for another year. Subscriptions must COM
mence with the beginning of the volume, and mot
be taken for less than years publication, unless
,p,lI, - Co.
shorter period--even if it be for single number:
S. he mutual obligations of the publisher and
for the year, are fully ncurr d, soon
Is the first number of the volume is issued: and af-
will BIT time, no dlscontinuance Of a subscription
,onti permitted. Nor will subscription be dis
any earlir notice, while any thing
tdhi epule, unless ache option Of the editor