The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-01-04
PROSPECTUS
OF THE
Southern Literary Messenger.
T. W. WHITE, Editor and Proprietor.

This is monthly Magazine, devoted chiefly 10
Literature, but occasionally finding room also for
articles that fall within the scope Of Science and
not protesting entire disdain oftasteful seectious
though its matter has been, it will continue to
be-, in the main, original.
Party politics and controversial Theology, as
far as possible, are jealousy excluded. They are
sometimes blended with discussions in literature
or in moral science, otherwise unohe ctionable, a.
to gain adniltance for the sake of the valua-
lie matter to which they adhere: but whenever that
happens, they are incidental, oEly; not primary
They are dross tolerated only because it cannot
we'll be severed from the serdg ore wherewth it Is
Incorporated.
Reviews, and Critical Notices, occdpy THAR due
spree in the work: and il is the Editors aim tha
they should have threefold tendency-to convey,
in condensed form, such valuable truths or inter-
esting incidents embodied in the works 70
vicwed, to direct the readers attention to books
that deserve to he read and to warn him against
wasting time and money upon that large number,
which merit only to be burned In this age, OF pub
cations that by their variety and multitude, distract
and overwhelm every undiscri mating student, i'm.
partial cri.icisln governed by the views jus, men,
toned it is one of the most inesn,abe and ndis-
pensahe Of auxiiiiaries, to him who does wish 70
discriminate.
Essays, and Tales, having in view utility or
amusement, or both Historical Sketches-and Re-
miniscences Of events too minute for Hirtory, set
elucd .,ing it, and hcishtening its interest," may
be regarded as forming the staple Of The work And
Of Indigenous Poetry, enough is publishei--sone.
times Of NO mean strain-to manifest and TO culti-
vate tie growing poetical taste and talents Of our
country.
The times appear, for several reasons, to demand
such work-and not one alone, bur many. The
public mind is evsrsh and irritaed still, from
cent political sri!es-The soft, .ssuasiee influence
of Literature is needed to slay that fever, snd
soothe tina, irritation. Vice and folly are roting
or ashed hy rIIicule, into their fitting haunts lg-
norance lords it over an immense proportion Of our
people--Every spring should be set in notion to
arouse the enlightened and TO increase their num-
Der; that ,he great enemy of popular government
may no longer brood, like a portentous cloud, over
the des:inies of our country And accomplish ail
these ends what more sowerful agent can be employ
cd, than PERIODICAL on the plan of the Messenaei;
if that plan he carried out in practice?
The South peculiarly requires such an agcDt. In
all the Union, south Of Washington, there are but
two Literary publications! Northward Of that city,
there are probably at least twenty five OF thirty Is
this contrast justified by the wealth, the leisure, the
native talent, tie actual literary taste, of tho
Southern people, compared with those Of the North
ern? No: for in wealth, talents, ard taste, We may
Justly claim at least an equality with brethren;
and domestic institution exclusively our own, be-
yond all doubt affords US, if We choose twice the
leisure for reading and writing, which they en-
Joy.
1t was from deep sense Of this local want that
the word Southern was engrafted on the name of
this periodical, and not with any design to nourish
local prejudices to advocate supposed local inter
ests Far from any such thought, it is the Editors
fcrvcnt wish to see the North and South bound en-
dearngly together forever, in the siken bands Of
mutual kindness and affection. Far from mcdita
ting hostility TO the north, he has already drawn
and he hopes hereafter to draw, much of his choi-
cest matter thence: and happy inde, will he deem
himself, should his pages, by making each region
know the other better, contribute in any essential
degree to dispel the lowering clouds that threa
ten the peace of both and to brighten and strength
en- sacred ties Of fraternal love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now
reached the May No. of its fourth volame How
far thas acted out the ideas here uttered is not for
falls not further short of thorn than human weak
ness usually makes Practice fall short Of Theory,
CONDITIONS.
I. The Southern Literary Messenger is publish
ed in monthly numbers, of Ga large superroyai &C.
tuvo pages each, on the best of paper, and neatly
covered, at SIS ycar-payable in advance.
g. Or FIVE new subscribers by sending their
names and S2O at one time to the editor, will re-
ceve their copies for one year for that sum, or at
81 f,r each.
8. The risk of loss ofpayments for subscriptions,
which have been properly committed to the mail,
or to the hands of postmaster, is assumed by the
editor.
4. If a subscription is not directed to be discon-
tinucd before the first lumber of the next volume
has been published, it will be taken a continu-
ance for another year. Subscriptions must COM
mence with the beginning Of The volume, and inot
be taken for less than years publication, unless
the Individual subscribing is willing to pay SIS for
S. 1he mutnal obligations of the publisher and
subscsber for the year, fully ncurr d, as soon
as the first number of the volume is issued: and af
will bt time, no dlscontinuance Of a subscription
oontie permitted Nor will a subscription be dis