State rights and democratic union. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1839-18??, 1839-10-09
PROSPECTUS OF TIL

PROSPECTUS tlF The
SOUa 1EFN LITERARY MESSENGEh
r. w. White, Editor and Proprietor.
UyHTS is monthly magazine, devoted chiefly 70
IL literature, but occasionally nnolng IOon. vi
rficles that fall within the scope OF science; ana
not protesting an entire disdain Of tasteful selections,
though It's matter has been as It will continue TO De,
/ in the main, original. f.
Parry politics aud controversial theology, as far
as uossble are jealously excluded. They are some
times so blended with discussions in literature or in
moral sleuce otherwise unobjeclionabe, as to gain
admiitance for the sake Of the more valuable mat
ter 20 which they adhere; but whenever that hap.
pens. they are incidental only, not primary. They
are dross tolerated only because itcannot well be
severed from the sterling ore wherewith it's incor-
porated.
Reviews and critical notices occupy their due
snace in the work and it is the editors aim that
thew should have q three fold tendency--to convey
In q condensed form such valuable truths or inter
estnp incidents as are embodied in the works re.
viewed and to warn him against wasting time ana
money upon the large number, which merit only TO
he hurned In this age ofpubcations, that by their
variety and multitude distract and overwhem every
undiscrimina ting students impatial criticism govern
ed by the views Just mentioned, is one of the most
inesiimable and indispensable auxlaries 10 him who
wishes TO discriminate.
ESSAYS and tales, having in view utility or amuse.
ment O, both, historical sketches, and reminiscent
ces of events too minute for history yet calculating
it. and frightening lis interest, may be regarded as
forming the staple ofthe work. And of indigenous
poetry, enough is NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF no mean
srain-to mJnifest and cultivate the poetieal taste
and talents of our county.
The times appear, for several reasons, to demand
auch work-and not one alone, but many The
public mind IS feverish and irritated stil, from
cent political strife. The soft, assnasive influence
of literature needed alay that ever and soothe
that irritation. Vice and folly rioting abroad:
Il 4. III. 1b..tr. IL
by ridicue into their fitting hauns. Ignorance lords
ifover an immense portion IF our people. Every
spring should be set in motions arouse the enlght.
ened, and to increase their number; so that the
great enemy Of popular government may no longer
brood, like pOFtentous cloud over 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
he but carried cut in practice.
The South, peculiarly, requires such an AGENT
In all the Union south Of Washington there but
two literary periodicals.! Norlhward Of that CITY,
there are probably at least, twenty five thirty Is
this contrast justified by the wealth, the leisure. the
native tIent the actual literary taste of the South
ern people compared with those Of the Northernl
No: for in wealth, talents and tast9 we may justly
claim at least, equality with OUT brethren and
domestic institution exclusively own. beyond all
doubt affords u.s. If choose, twice The leisure for
reading and writing, which they enjoy.
It was deep sense of this local want, that the
word southern was ergrafted on The of this pc.
riodcal, and not with any design TO nourish local
pTeiudices, or to advocate supposed local interests
Far from any such thought il is the editors fervent
wish to see the north and south bound endearDgly to-
gether forever in the siken binds of mutual kind.
ness and affection. Far from medtang hostility to
the North he has already drawn, and he hopes here
after to draw much of his choicest matter thence and
happy indeed will he deem himself should his pages
by ma king each region know the other better,
tribute any especial degree TO dispel the lowering
clouds that threaten the peace of both, and to
strengthen the sacred ties of fraternal love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reach
ed the fifth number of its third volume. How far It
has acted ont the ideas here uttered it is not for the
editor to say He believes, however, that it falls no
further short Of them than human weakness usually
makes practice fall short of Theory.
The MESSENGER is issDed monthly. Each num-
Der of the work contains sixtyfour large SUPERFICIAL
pages, printed in very handsome manner, on new
tyne, and on paper equal at least to that on which
any other periodical is printed in our country.
No Subscription will be received for less than
volume, and must commence with the current one.
The price is five dollars per volume, which must be
paid in all cases at the time of subscribing This is
particularly ADJ erted TO now, TO avoid misaprehen-
sion; future Observation-Disclosures no order viii
hereafter be attended unless accompanied with the
price Of subscription.
The postage on the Messenger is STA cents on any
single No. for all distances under 100 miles-over
100 miles ten cents.
All communications or letters relative te the Mes.
senger must be addressed t.
THOs W. WHITE.