The Madisonian., 1840-02-06
PROSPECTUS OF THE
SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER,

THOMAS W. WHITE EDITOR AND pRorRIEToR.
T,HIS is A MONTHLY MAGAZINE, devoted
L chiefly 10 literature, but occasionally finding room
for articles that fall within the scope Of Science and not
processing entire disdan Of tasteful selections thoug
its matter has been it will continue TO be, in the mai
original.
Party politics and controversial theology pos
sible, caously excluded, They sometimes
blended with discussions in literature moral science
otherwise unobjeconalle, to gain adnittance or til
sake Of the valuable matter TO which they adhere
but whenever that happens, they are incidental only no
not well be severed from the sterling wherewiih 1t
Incorporated.
Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due spa
in the work and it is the editors aim that they shoul
have threelod tendency-to convey in condensed.
form, such valuable truths interesting incidents are
embodied in the works rcviewcd,o direct the readers
attention to books that deserve he ead-and to
him against wasting time and money upon that large mum
ber which merit only 10 be burned In this OF publi-
cations that by tleir variety and multitude distract and
overwhelm every undscrimnating student, impartial
criticism governed ly the views Just mentioned IS one OF
the most inesnale and indispensable of auxiaries, 10
him who does wish 10 discriminate.
Essays and Tales shaving in viewutiy or amusement,
or boh,-IIstorcal Sac,ches,-and "reminiscences Of
minute for history, yet calculating it, and height
ening its nteesma be regarded forming the staple
Of the work And Of indigenous poetry, enough is pub
lshcd-somenes OF mean stran--to manifest and to
cultivate the growing poetca taste and talents OF our
country.
The times appear for several reasons, demand such
work-and alone but many. The public mind
is everish and rated sl from recent political stries
The soft, assuasve influence of literature is needed to
aay that fever, and sooihe thai irritation Vice and folly
roting abroad They should be driven by indignant
rebuke, lashed hy rcule into their fitting hauntJ.
Ignorance lords it over immense proportion OF our
people Every spring should be in motion,
the enlightened and their number that the
enemy of popular government may longer brood,
like porenous cloud, the destnes Of our country.
And to accomplish all these ends what powerful
agent can he employed than periodical on the plan OF
the Messenger if that plan be but carried out in practce
The South, peculiarly, requhes such agent In all
the Union. sonih OF Washington, there are nut two literary
periodicals Norhward OF that city there probably at
least twenty-five thirty Is this contrast ushed by
the wealth. the leisure the native talent, the actual
literary Of the Southern people compared with those
Of the Northern No: for IN wealth, talents and taste,
we may justly claim at least equality with our bre-
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 was engraftcd on the name of this
periodical and with any design noursh local pre-
udices to advocate supposed local interests Far from
any such thought the editors fervent wish to the
North and South bound endeangy together forever IN
the silken bands OF mutual kindness and affection Far
from mediiatng hostility to tie North, he has already
draw and he hopes hereaicrtu draw much OF his choicest
matter thence ana happy indeed will he deem HIMSELF
should hs pages by making each region know the other
better contribute in essential degree to dspel the
lowering clouds that threaten the peace OF both and
to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties OF raternaf
love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the
fifth No Of its third volume How far il has acted out the
ideas here uttered. it is not for the editor TO say. He
believes however that it falls not further short Of them
than human weakness usually makes practice fall short OF
theory.
The Messenger is issued monthly Each number OF the
work 64 large supcroyal pages printed in the
very handsomes, manner, new type, and on paper
equal least that which any Other periodical is
printed in country.
No subscription will be received for less than volume,
and must commence with the one. The price is
IS per volume which be paid in all cases AT the time
Of subscribing This is particularly adverted TO now to
avoid misapprehenson. future misunderstandng-as
no order will hereafter he attended to unless accompanied
with the price of subscription.
The postage the Messenger cents on any sin
ple No for all distances unde miles-over 100 miles
cents
All communications letters, relative to the Messen
GER must bc addressed to THoNSs W. WHITE;
Southern Literary Messenger Office Richmond, Va