The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-03-16
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,

THOMAS w. WHITE EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE. devoted
chiefly to literature, but occasionally finding room
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and not
processing entire dsdan of tasteful seections though
its matter has BEEN it will continue to be- in the main
original.
Party politics and controversial theology as far pos
slble, jealousy excluded. They sometimes so
blended with discussions literature moral science
otherwise unobeconabe to gain admittance or the
sake Of the valuable matter which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they incidental only not
primary They are dross tolerated only because i can
not well be severed from the sterling ore wherewith 1t
incorporated. &
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due spa
in the work and it is the editors aim that they shou
have a threefod tendency--to convey in condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents as
embodied in the works reviewedto direct the readers
attention books that deserve to be read,and to warn
him against wasting time and money upon that large mum
Der, which merit only be burned In this age OF publ
cations that by CHER variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every undscrminating student, impartial
criticism governed by the views just mentioned Is one OF
the nestmable and indispensable Of auxaries, to
him who does wish to discriminate.
ESSAYS and Tales having in view utility or amusement,
or both ,-HistoNcal Sketches,-and "Reminiscences OF
events too minute for history yet Calculating IL and height
of the work. And Of Indigenous poetry enough il pub
lishedsometimes Of mean stranto manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetcal taste and talents OF our
country.
The appear for several reasons TO demand such
| a work-and not one alone, but many The public mind
il eyersh and irritaed still from recent political strfe
The soft assuasive influence of literature is needed,
aay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke dashed by rdcule, into their fitting haunts
Ignorance lords IL immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in notion to arouse
the enlightened and to increase their number SO that the
great enemy of popular longer BROOD
like portentous cloud, the destinies OF our country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent be employed than PERIODICAL on the plan OF
Messengers that plan be but carried out in practice
The South peculiarly, requ,ies such an agent. In all
the Unon south Of there are but two literary
periodicals. Nohward Of that city, there are probably at
least twenty five or thirty Is this contrast justified by
the wealth. the leisure the native talent, or the actual
literary Of the Southern people, compared with those
Of the Northern, No: for in wealth. talents and TASTE
we may Justly claim least equality with our bre
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords if we choose twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they ENJOY.
II was from deep sense Of this local want that The
word SOUTHERN was engrafted on the name Of this
periodical and with any design to noursh local pre-.
udices advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought il is the editors ervent wish the
North and South bound endearingy together forever IN
the slken bands Of mutual kindness and affection Far
from meditatng hostility the North, he has already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw much OF his choicest
matter thence; ana happy indeed will he deem himself,
should his by making each region know the oet
better contribute in any essential degree to dspe the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace OF both and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of traernA
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached the
fifth No Of its third volume. How far it has acted out the
ideas here uttered, it is not for the editor to say lie
believes, however, tnat IL 1as not further SNORT VI
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short OF
1 theory E."#
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number OF the
work contains "a large superroyal pages printed in The
| very handsomest manner, new type, and on paper
equal least to that which any other periodical
| printed in country.
No subscription will be received for less than volume
1 and must commence with the The pnces
as per volume which be paid in all at the time
of subscribing This is particularly adverted to now
| avoid msapprehension, future MISUNDERSTANDING
no order will hereafter he attended to unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription. IA,
The postage the Messenger is six cents on any SIN
gle No for all distances under 100 miles-over 100 miles,
ten cents.
All communications letters, relative to the Messen
ger, must be addressed to THOMAS W WHITE;
| Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va