The Madisonian., 1840-01-30
PROSPECTUS OF, THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,

THOMAS W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
THIS is MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
Il chiefly TO literature, but occasionally finding
for articles that fall within the scope OF Science and
protesting entire disdan Of tasteful selections tho
its has been, it will continue to be, in the
original
Party politics and controversial theology far pos
sibe, jealousy excluded. They sometimes
blended with discussions literature III moral science
otherwise unobjectionae to gain adniitance or til
sake Of the valuable matter TO which they adhere
but whenever that happens they incidental only
primary They dross tolerated only because i can
not well be severed from the sterling wherewi,h n
incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due spa
in the work and it is the editors aim that they shoui
have threefold tendency--to convey in condensed
FORM such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reviewed,to direct the readers
attention books that deserve to be readand TO warn
him against wasting time and money upon that large NUN
ber which merit only to be burned In this age oil publ
cations that by ther variety and multitude distract and
over~hem every undiscrimnaiing student impartial
criticism governed by the views Just mentioned is Of
the most nesnable and indispensable Of auxiares 10
him who does wish to discriminate
Essays and Tales having view utility amusement,
both,-Historical Sketches,-and "Reminiscences Of
minute for history yet elucdang IT, and height
enng its interestingly be regarded as forming the staple
Of the work And of indigenous poetry, enough Is puO
shed-sometmes OF no mean srain-to manifest and TO
cultivate the growing poetica taste and talents OF our
country.
The times appear for several reasons, demand suc
a work-and not one alone, but many. The public mind
is feversh and rated sti from recent political siries
allay that fever and soothe tha, irritation Vice and folly
riotng abroad: They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, lashed by ridcue, into their fitting haun'
Ignorance lords it immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be set in motion, to arouse
the enlightened and to increase their number so that the
great enemy Of popular government may no longer brood
like porentous cloud the destines OF our country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent be employed than periodical on the plan OF
the Messenger if that plan be but carried out in practice
The South, peculiarly, requnes such agent In all
he IA
periodicals Nothward Of that city there probably at
least twenty-five thirty! Is this contrast Jusuhed py
the wealth. the leisure. the native talent or the acua
literary Of the Southern people compared WIN those
Of the Northern! No for in wealth, talents and taste
may justly claim at least an equality WIN our pte
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords choose, twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
1t from deep Of this local want, that the
word SOUTHERN engrafted on the name OF tins
periodical and not with any design to noursh local pre-
udces advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought is the editors ervent wish to see the
North and South bound endearngly together forever IN
the silken bands Of mutual kindness and affection ta
from meditatrg hostility to TIE 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 by making each region know the other
better contribute in any essential degree to dgPel the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace Of both and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF haterha
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has reached the
fifth No of its third volume How far il has acted out the
ideas here uttered it is for the editor to say. He
believes however, that it falls 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 64 large superroyal pages printed IN the
very handsomest manner, on new type, and on paper
equal least that which any other periodical
printed in country
No subscription viii be received for less than avoume
and commence with the current The price IS
SIS per volume, which must be paid all al the time
of subscribing This is particularly adverted TO no" to
avoid misapprehension future misunderstandine-aS
order will hereafter he attended to unless accompanied
with the price Of subscription.
The postage on the Messenger cents on any SIN
gle No. for all distances nnde miles-over 100 miles,
ten cents.
All communications letters, relative the Messen
ger, must be addressed TO THOMAS w, WHITE,
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond, Va