The Madisonian., 1840-02-13
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
TnoNAs ". wHIIE. EplroR ASH rnorRIrron.

THOMAS ". WHITE, EDITOR AND pRopRIEroR
THIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
i chiefly 10 literature, but occasionally fntn, room
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and m
processing entire disdain of tasteful sseeor. io5
It's matter has been as II will continue TO be, in the ma
original
Party politics and controversial theology as far rs tos
sble, are icalousy excluded. They ate sometimes
blended with discussions literature in moral s,er
otherwise unob)ecionahe, gain admittance d III
sake Of the more valuable which they altte
but whenever that happens, they incidental only
primary They dross, tolerated only because ct
not well be severed from the sterling wherewiih i
incorporated
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due sps
in the work and it the editors that they shou,
have threelod tendency--to convey in condensed
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents
embodied in the works reyewedto direct the rcaler,
attention TO books that deserve to be readand 10
him against wasting time and money upon that large nun
ber which merit only TO he burned In this age OF pu.
cations that by cheir variety and multitude distract and
overwhem every undiscriminang student. impaired
criticism, governed by the views just mentioned Ole o
the most nesnable and indispensable Of anxilares
him who does wish 10 discriminate.
Essays and Tales having in viewutilty amusemeht
or both,-Hisorical Shciches,-and "reminiscences K
events too minute for history yet eucdaiing IT. and e
ening It's nerestWay be regarded forming the stape
OF tle work. And of Indigenous poetry enough is PM
lished-somc'imes OF no mean stran--,o manifest a1
cultivate the growing poeticai taste and talents Of n
country.
The times appear for several reasons TO demand
a work-and not one alone but MANY The public msd
is feversh and iratcd STILL from recent political sr,
The soft assuasye influence Of literature is needed
aay tina, fever. and soo,he that irritation Vice ard ty
roting abroad They should be driven hy indignant
rebuke or dashed by ridcule into their fitting haint,
Ignorance lords it immense proportion o
people Every spring should be set in motion, 10 arouse
the enlightened, and 10 increase their number ha
great enemy of popular government may longer brood,
Ike portenous cloud, the destinies Of conn
And TO accomplish all these ends, what foNtdsl
agent can be employed than periodical the plan Of
the Messenger if that plan be but carried practice
The South, peculiarly, requhes such agent. In all
the Union, south OF Washington there are hut Two literary
periodicals Nor,hward Of that city ther, probably 4
least twenty-five thirty Is this contrast justified s
the wealth. the leisure. the native talent or the actual
literary taste or the Southern people, compared whhose
of the Nor,heni No; for in wealth, talents and taste
we may justly claim at least an equality with our fe-
thren; and domestic institution exclusively our own
beyond all doubt affords US, if choose, twice the leisure
for reading and writing, which they enjoy.
Ii was from deep of this local want, that tie
word SOUTHERN was engrafted the name q ti,s
periodical and not with any design noursh ocape
JUDGES, or TO advocate supposed local interests ta a
such thought the editors wish 10 see lhe
North and South bound endearincly together forever
the silken bands of mutual kindness and affection tT
from meditang hostility to tie North he has Already
drawn and he hopes hereafter draw, much ohscoa'
matter thence; happy indeed will he deem himself
should his pages by making each region know the gtHH
better, contribute in any essential degree TO disi w.
lowering clouds that now threaten the peace q hoa ah
TO brighten and strengthen the sacred ties ol u'trhai
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has rcacfod 'Ae
NTH No. of its third volume, How far il has acted ~ m
ideas here uttered it is for the editor to saf ie
believes however, thatit falls further short Of tn
than human weakness usually makes practice fall soti ~
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly. Each number d ne
work contains "a large super-roya pages, printed ~ he
very handsomest manner, new type and on PARE
equal at least TO that which any other periodical .
printed in country.
No subscription win he received for less than aroun'
and must commence with the current one The prlcf
SIS per volume, which must be paid in all cases al Ae ''
Of subscribing. This is particularly advered to nov
| avoid misapprehension or future misunderstanding
no order viii hereafter be attended to unless accompant
with the price Of subscription
The postage the Messenger cents on any sr
gle No for all distances unde mes-over 100 ~ 81
ten cents.
All com.nunications letters relative to tho Messcn
ger must be addressed 10 THOMAS w. WHIT.
Southern Literary Messenger Office, Richmond W