Southern Argus., 1839-02-19
Prospectus of The
southern Literary 1Tessengcr.


Southern Literary Messenger.
T.w. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
NHIS is monthly Magazine, devoted
u chiefly to Literature, but occasionally
finding room also for articles that fall within
the scope of Science and not protesting an
entire disdain Of tasteful selections, thoughts
matter has been. as it will continue to be, IN
the main original
Party Politics and controversial Theology,
as far as possible, are jealously excluded.
They are sometimes so blended with Discus
sions In literature 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
fwith it is incorporated.
Review and Critical Notices occupy their
due space In the work /; and it is the editors
aim that they should have threefoId tenden-
cy-to convey in condensed form, such valu-
able truths or interesting incidents as are EN-
bodied In the works reviewed. direct the
readers attention to books that deserve to be
reaG,-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 overwhelm every undiscriminatng
student, impartial criticism governed by the
views justmentioned, is one of the most inest
mable and indispensable of auxiliariee, to hin
who does wish to discriminate.
Essays, and Tales, having in view utility o
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 published Ct Inc no gFe mea7
ing poetry taste and talents of our coun
try.
The time appears, for several reasons, t,
demand such work: andnot one alone, bu
many. The public mind is feverish and irrita
/ ted still from recent political strifes. Th
I soft assuasive influence of literature is needed
to allay that fever and smoothe that irritation
Vice and folly are rioting abroad: they shouh
be driven by indignant rebuke, or lashed b.
ridicule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance
lords it over an immense prOportionof our peo
pie. Every spring should be set in motion, t.
arouse the enlightened, and to increase thei
number; so that the great enemy of popula
government may no longer brood, like a por
tentous cloud over the destines of our country
i
powerful agent can be employed, than peri
odicaL on the plan of the Messenger; if tha
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. NorthWarC
, OF that city, there probably are at least TWEEN
ty-tive or thirty! Is this contrast justified BY
the wealth, the leisure. the native talent,or the
actual literary taste, of the Southern people
compared with those of the Northern? No
for IN wealth, talents and taste, we may Justly
claim at least an equality with our brethren
and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt, affords us, if we choose, twice
the leisure for reading and writing which they
enjoy.
It was from deep sense of this local want
that the word Southern was engrafted on this
periodical; and not with any design to nour-
lsh local prejudices or to advocate supposed
local interests. Far from any such thought. II
IS the editors fevent wish to see the North
and South bound endearingly together forever,
IN the silken bands Of mutual kindness and af-
lection. Far from meditating hostility to the
North, he has already drawn, and he hopes
therefore to draw muchof his choicest matter
thence: and happy indeed win 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 tc
I0Llgghsen and strengthen the sacred ties of fra
i he Southern Literary Messenger has now
reached the 1lth No 81. the third volume
How iarlt has acted out the IDEAS here uttered.
rs not for the editor to say. Ie BELIEVES how
ever, that il falls not further short 81 chem tban
human weakness usually makes Practice f,ll
lshortof Theory
CONDITIONS.
!. The Southern Literary Nfes-enrar ;s
published in monthly numbers. of 84 larse s.,.
perrnyal octave pages each, on the hest ~ 20.
per, and neatly covered, at IS wear. pavable
ln advance.
= Or i've new subscribers bv sending fbe;t
names and twenty dollars at one tine "a The
ealtofs WI receive their copies for one vaer
for that sum, or q dollars for each
5. The fIIssE Of loss Of payments for 81 cri6.
tions. which have been properly committed to
the mail b the hands 0l 4 postmaster. Is as.
sulned BY the editor
4 subscription S not directed fo be dis.
continued before the first number 81 he nsTt
volume has unpublished, i vii Be tal ken 81
g continuance tor another year Sofintiorz
mus commence with &c hachnint 81 ~
volume. and VII not BE taken 81. ff,n
year publication
Ane mutual o9ligatlons d the publisher
and subscriber, ior he year. are f,llv ;Ie,,
As soon As the nlst number nf fhr 6s,s
issued and llef hat lime. no si;scs, ;;s..s,,ss
subscription van be nsrnaiffel I'll
non 1s discontinued foI anp aarl;s,
neIIee lllIe al thing therein Fsnain ~
q tne Qlen 81 the editor