State rights and democratic union. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1839-18??, 1839-09-17
PROSPECTUS or 4 ~
ERN LITER AIRY N ESSENGER,

lSOUl HERN LITERARY MESSENG
/ r. w. White, Editor and Proprietor.
lgWyFIIS isa monthly magazine, devoted chiefly C
Il literature, bat occasionally finding room fol
articles that fall within the scope Of science; and
mot PROCESSING an entire disdain Of tasteful selections
Though its matter has been, as i viii continue TO De-
in the main, original.
Parry notifies aud controversial theology, as far
las possible. are jeaously excluded They are some
times so blended with discussions In literature or in
moral scleuce, otherwise unobjecionablr, as to gain
admittance for the sake Of the more valuable mat
ter 20 which they adhere; hnt whenever that hap
pens. thew are incidental only, not primary. They
are dross tolerated only because it cannot well be
severed from the sterling whereWith 1t is incoT-
Iporated.
| Reviews and critical notices occupy their due
space in the work. and il is tie editors aim that
| thew should have three fold tendency-to convey
lin condensed form such valuable truths inter-
esting incidents as are embodied in the works re.
viewed. and to warn him against wasting time and
money upon the large number, which merit only to
be burned. In this age ofpubcatons that by their
variety and multitude distract and overwhem every
understanding student, impartial criticism govern
ed by the views just mentioned, s one Of the most
Iinestimable ard indispensable auxlaries 10 him who
wishes to discriminate.
Essays and tales, having in view utility or muse.
men OF both, historical sketches, and reminiscent
ces of events too minute for history vet calculating
forming the staple ofthe work. And Of indigenous
poetry, enough is puhlished-sometimes Of no mean
slran-to manifest and cultivate the poeteal taste
and talents of our county.
The times appear, for several reasons, to demand
such a work-and not one alone, but many. The
public mind is feverish and irrilated STILL from re.
cent political strife. The soft, assnasve influence
of teraure is needed, aaY that ever, and soOthe
that irritation. Vice and folly are rioting abroad:
they should be driven by indignant rebuke, dashed
by rdicule intoiher fitting haunts. Ignorance lords
itover immense portion If our people. Every
spring should be set in notion to arouse the enlight.
ened, and to increase their number; so that the
great enemy Of popular government may no longer
brood. like portentons cloud the destnies Of
our country. And to accomplish all these ends,
what more powerful agent can be employed than a
periodical the plan Of the Messenger; If tina plan
he but carried tut in practice
The South, peculiarly, requires such an agent
In all the Union south of Washington there are but
two literary periodicals! Norihward of that CITY,
there are probably at least, twenty five thirty! Is
this contrast justified by the wealth, the lesure. the
native TALENT the actual literary taste OF the South
ern people compared with those Of the Northen7
No: for in wealth, talents and taste, may Justly
claim, at least, equality with our brethren and
domestic institution exclusively own, beyond all
doubt affords us il choose twice the leisure for
reading and writing, which they enjoy.
IT was n deep of this local want, that the
word southern ergraffed the name of this pc.
riodical, and not with any design to nourish local
pTeiudices, to advocate supposed local interests
Far from any such thcngh il is the editors fervent
wish to see the north and south bound endeagly to.
rether forever, in the siken bands Of mutual kind
ness and afetion. Far from medtaiing hostility to
the North, he has already drawn, and he hopes here
after to draw much Of his choicest matter thence ard
happy indeed will he deem himself shonld his pages
by making each region know the other better, con-
tribute any especial degree to dspel 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 out 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 issued monthly. Each num-
her Of the work contains sixty-our large superroyal
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 nj the time of subscribing This is
particularly adv erted to now, TO avoid misaprehen-
sion; or future misunderstanding-as no order will
hereafter be attended unless accompanied with the
price OF transcription.
The postage on the Messenger is SIN 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 tc
THOs. w. WHITE.