The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-05-04
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER
THoMAs W. WHITE. EDITOR AND paorK,kroR.

THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PRorRlEToR
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
chiefly TO literature, but occasionally finding room
processing entire disdain Of tasteful selections thong
its matter has been, as it will continue TO be, the MAJ
original.
sible, jeaously excluded. They are sometimes
blended with discussions in literature in science
otherwise unobJectionale, TO gain admittance ORTIZ
sake OF the valuable matter TO which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only 70
primary They dross, tolerated only because can
not well be severed from the sterling ~herewith
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due spa
in the work and it is the editors aim that they sou
have a threefold tendency-to convey in a condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents ae
embodied in the works revewed,-to direct the readers
attention TO books that deserve TO be read-and
him against wasting time and money upon that large nun
Der, which merit only he burned In this Of pul
cations, that by fheir variety and multitude distract and
overMhelm every Understanding student, Impartial
criticism. governed by the views just mentioned Of
the most nestmale and Indispensable OF auxiaries 10
him who does wish to discriminate.
Essays and Tales having in view utility amusement
or boih-lIisorica Sketches,-and "reminiscences Of
ening its interestingly lie regarded forming the staple
OF the work And of indigenous poetry, enough is pub
lished-soInetmes Of mean stran-to manifest and to
country
The times appear for several reasons demand such
awork-and not one alone, but many. The public mind
lfTuted s recent political strtes
The soft, assuasive influence Of literature is needed
allay that fever and soohe that irritation. Vice and folly
are rotng abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, dashed by rdicule into their firing hauns
Ignorance lords it immense proportion Of our
people Every spring should be sch in notion to arouse
the enlightened and TO increase their number that the
great enemy OF popular government may longer brood,
like portentous cloud the destnies Of our country
And to accomplish all these ends what more powerful
agent can be employed than PERIODICAL the plan Of
the Messenger; If that plan be but carried in practice
he South nIiarlv stah IL en-
the Union south OF Washington, there but Two literary
periodicals! Northward Of that city, there probably
least twenty-five or thirty! Is this contrast justified by
the wealth, the leisure the native talent, the actual
literary OF the Southern people compared with those
Of the Northern No: for in wealth. talents. and TASTE
We may justly claim at least equality with our he
thren; and domestic institution exclusively own
beyond all doud affords If choose. the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy
1t was from deep OF this local want, that re
word SOUTHERN engraned the Of tins
periodical and with any design 10 nonrsh local pre-
udices To advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought il The editors frrvent wish hr
North and South bound endearngy together forever
The sken hands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from mediatins hostility to the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much Of his choicest
matter thence; ano happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages 10y making each know the other
better, contribute in any essential degree 10 dspe The
lowering clouds that threaten the peace of both and
TO brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of fmerna
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached the
fifth No OF its third volume How Ear il has acted the
ideas here uttered, is not for the editor lie
believes, however, that il falls not 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 "a large super-royal pages printed he
very handsomest manner, type, and on paper
equal at least to that which any other periodical
printed in country.
No subscription will he received for less than volume
and must commence with the current The pnc' =
IS per volume which be paid in all the Tine
Of subscribing This is particularly adverted TO no" to
avoid msapprehcnson, or future misunderstanding
no order will hereafter I've attended unless accompand
with the price Of subscription.
The postage the Messenger is six cents on any IN
gle No for all distances under 100 mes-over 100 mt'.
ten cents.
All communications or letters relative to the Mess'r
ger, mus, he addressed TO THOMAS W WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va