Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-04-23
Prospectus Of he
somfIlern LilernrY NIessenReE

Prospectus q ne
Southern Literary Messenger.
I. ". WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
TlHIS is a monthly Magazine. devoted
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 controvG ysial Theology,
as far as possible, are jealously excluded.
They are sometimes so blended with discus
sions inliterature or IN moral science, other
wise unobiectionable, as to gain admittance
| for the sake of the more valuable matter to
which they adhere: but whenever that han
pens, they are incidental only not Urinary.
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 che work and it is the editors
ann thas they should have threefoId tenden-
j 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 pubI-
cations that by Their variety and multitude dis
tract and overwhelm every undiscriminating
student, impartial criticism governed by the
views aforementioned, is one of the most inest-
mable and indispensable of auxiliaries, tohim
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 frightening It's 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
ing poetry taste and talents of our coun-
try.
The time appears, for several reasons, tc
demand such work andnot one alone, but
many. The public mind is feverish and irrita.
ted still, from recent political strifes. The
soft assuasive influence of literature 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
ridicule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance
lords it over an immense proportion of our PEG
pie. Every spring should be set In motion, Il
arouse the enlightened, and to increase theT
number; so that the great enemy of porula
government1nay no longer brood, like por
tentous cloud over the destines of our country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more
powerful agent can be employed, than aperi
odical, on the plan of the Messenger; if tina
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
/ al ~ Il ~
the wealth, the leisure. the native talent, or tht
actual literary taste, of the Southern people
compared with those of the Northern! No
for in wealth. td ents and taste, we may justly
claim at least an equality with our brethren
and a domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt, affords us, if we choose, twice
; the leisure for reading and writing which they
enjoy.
1t was from deep sense of this local wan
that the word Southern was engrafted on this
, periodical and not with any design to nour
ish local prejudices or to advocate supposed
local interests. Far from any such thought, i
is the editors fervent wish to see the Norti
and South bound endearingly together forever
! in the silken bands of mutual kindness and aft
lection. Far from meditating hostility to th,
: North, he has already drawn, and he hopet
therefore to draw much of his choicest matte
thence: and happE indeed win he deem him
SELF should his pages, by making each region
know the other better, contribute in any es
sential degree to dispel the lowering cloud
that now threaten the peace of both, and {,
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of fra
ternal love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has nov
reached the 18th No of the third volume
How FART 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, thai
human weakness usually makes Practice 6l
short Of Theory.
CONDITIONS.
1. The Southern Literary MESSENGER i
pubhshedin monthly numbers, Of 81 laree So
perroyal octave pages each, on the best ST 8
per, and NEATLY covered, at IS ayear. pavabl,
IN advance.
Or five new subscribers BY sendino fhef
names and twenty dollars at one time 10 ~,
editor, will receive their copies for one veay
Tor that sum, Or at 4 dollars for each.
8. The risk ofloss Of payments for snbscr;in
tons, which have been properly COMMITTEE +
the mail; o. the hands Of 4 postmaster. IS g
sumed by the editor.
+ q subscription IS not directed to Be al
{ [contnued before the first number 81 ne ~
volume has been published. It win Sc taken F
) continuance fof another year Snbscrrf;o6
must commence with the beginning 81 ~
yolume. and will not Be taken for less tbar
year publication
he mutual Obligations 81 The nbbltbe
and subscriber for The year. are IlIly F,s...T
as soon as tie FIRST number 81 Che Vorrs
and after hat time. 10 dcont
8 s0oscIlPtlen Nll 5s permitted Nor l