, 1841-03-06
TO THE PUBLIC.

SlNCE resiuning the conduct Of The South
- ern Literary Messenger, a, the COM
m%encement of its third year, | have had al
ways in view the establishment OF a Maya
zine which should retain some OF the chief
features of that journal, abandoning or great
Y modifying the rest. Delay, however, has
been occasioned by variety Of causes, and
not until now have | felt myself at liberty TO
attempt the exclusion ofmy design.
will be pardoned for speaking more d.
rectly of The Messenger. Having in it no
proprietary right, my objects too being at va
rance. in many respects, with those of It's
very worthy owner. | found difficulty in
stamping upon its pages that Individuality
which | believe essential to the full success
of all similar publications. In regard to their
permanent influence. II appears 10 ne that a
continuous. detinit character. and a marked
certainty of purpose, are desIderata OF vital
importance. and only attainable where one
mind alonc has the general direction of the
undertaking. Experience has rendered OBJ
vious. what might indeed have been demon
strated n PRIOR; that in founding a magazine
of my own. lies nv sole cfance of CARRYING
out to completion whatever peculiar inten-
lions | may have entertained.
To hose who remember the early DAYS OF
tie Southern periodical in question it will be
scarcely necessary TO say that It's main iea-
lure was Il somewhat overdone causiicity in
lis department OF Critical Notices of New
hooks. The Penn Magazine will retain this
trait of severity in so much only as the calm
est yet sterneSt sense OF Justice will Permit.
Some wears since elapsed may have mellow
ed down the petTlence without interfering
with the rigor of the critic. Most surely
they have not vet taught him to read through
the medium of Il publishers will, nor con
vIncrd him that tie interests of letters are
uuallIcd with the interests of truth. 1t shall
be the first and CHEF purpose the Magazine
now proposed 10 become known as one
where may be found al al times, and upon
a, subjects. IN honest and fearless opinion.
II shall he leading object to assert in pre-
ccp'. and to maintain IN practice the rights.
while IN effect ii demonstrates the advan-
'a-cS Of IN absolutely independent criticism:
III criticism Srji-Su>tlinrd; guiding Itself on
" hy lie purrSt rules # Art; analvZIng and
Urgrn% these rules rs II applies them; hold
IUgIt>cii a!uot from Ill personal bias: nc
know lcG-Iu- 10 fear save that Of ouirag-
ny the night; yielding no point either to tie
vanity of the author, or To the assumptions of
antique prciudIccS, or /" the i~nviolatc and an
nonymus cant OF QuarterlieS, or TO the ar
ro.ance of those organized ~ciiyWeS. which.
hanging like Nightmares upon American lItera-
rurr. manufacture 1T the nod "i our principal
booksellers. apscudo-p public opinion by whole
ale. These axe objects of which no man
need bc ashamed. They are purposes. more
over. whose novelty at least will give them
interest. For assurance that ] will fulfil
them in the best spirit and TO the very letter.
| appeal with confidence to the MANY thou
sands o my friends. and especially of nv
southern friends who sustained me in the
Messenger. where had hu, Il very partial
opportunity OF completing my own plans.
Ia respect 10 the features at the Penn
Magazine, 4 few words here Will suffice. 1t
will endeavor To support the gcner interests
oil the republic of letters. without reference
10 particular regions; regarding the world AT
large as tie true audience OF the author. Be-
ynnd the precincts oilitrraturc. properly so
called. it will leave in better hands the task
of instruction upon all matters ofvcry grave
moment. It's aim chiefly shall be- Ia please:
ana lNIS lillbuIn means Oh NtIS1lllllN. OIlIlll-
and pungency. 1t may be as well
here to observe that nothing said in this
Prospectus should be construed into n de-
sign OF Sullying the Magazine with any tine
lUrc of the Lutiuuncry. scurrIlity, or profani-
" which are the blemIsh of snI,e of the most
OF the European prints. In all
branches of the literary department, the
best aid. from the highest and purest sources.
is secured.
TO the mechanical execution of the work
the greatest attention will be gwen which
such a matter can require. In tins respect II
IS proposed 10 SurpaSs, by very much, the
ordinary Magazine style. The form will
nearly resemble that of the Knickerbocker;
the paper will be equal to that of the North
American Review; the pictorial embe!liSh-
will be numerous, and by the leading
of the country. but will be introduced
only in the Illustration of the text.
The Penn Magazine will be published in
Philadelphia, on The first of each month. and
will form. half yearly, a volume of about 500
pages. The price will be S. per annum,
in advance. or upon the receipt of
the first number which will be issued on the