, 1841-01-30
TO THE PUBLIC.

~ L
SINCE shining the conduct of The South
- ern Literary Messenger. al the com-
nencement of its third year, ! have had al
ways in view the establishment oil a Maya
zine which should retain some Of the chief
features OF that journal, abandoning or great
" modifying the rest. j, lay. however, has
been occasioned By 4 variety Of causes. and
not until now have | felt myself at liberty to
attempt the exclusion ofmy design.
Twill lie pardoned for speaking more d.
rectly of The Messenger. Having in il no
proprietary riaht, my objects too being at va
Rance. in many respects, with those of its
very worthy owner, | found difficulty in
stamping Upon It's pages that individuality
which ! believe essential to the fall success
of all similar publications. In regard TO their
permanent influence. it appears 10 me that a
Continuous. definite character. and a marked
certainty of purpose, are desiderata OF vital
Importance, and only attainab!e where one
mind alone has the general direction Of the
undertaking. Experience has rendered Oh
viouS. what might indeed have been lemon
stratcd a priors; that in founding Il magazine
OF my own. lies my sole GRANGE of carrying
out I" completion whatever peculiar inten-
tons ] may have entertained.
To lhuSc who remember tho early DAYS Of
the Southern periodical in question it will be
~Scarcc.v necessary To say that It's main fea-
ture was 4 somewhat overdone cauSiicity in
lis department of Critical Notices of New
books. The Penn Magazine will retain this
trait OF severity In So much only as the calm
est vet sternost sense OF Justice will permit.
Some wears since elapsed may have mellow
cd down the petulence without interfering
with tie rigor OF the critic. Most surely
they have not yet taught him TO read through
the medium OF Il publishers will, nor con-
vInccd him tina; the interests of letters are
unailied with the Interests of truth. 1t shall
be the first and chief purpose the Magazine
now proposed to become known as one
where may be found ut all times, and upon
all subjects, an honest ard fearless opinion.
Ii shall lie a leading object TO assert in pre-
ccpt, and TO maintain in practice the rights.
while in effect it demonstrates the advan-
taTeS 81 an absolutely independent criticisms;
y criticism SelESuStdincd: guiding itself on
" by the puresi rules of Art; anolyzing and
urging these rules rs II applies them: hold
Ingi;Scli aloof from ail personal bias; &c
knowled-ln- 10 fear save that Of CutraE-
ing the right; yielding no point either 10 the
vanity Of the HulhOr. or IL the assumptions CT
antique prciudIceS, or To the i~nvIofaic and an
nouyaIIS can't Of QuIf;cries. or to the ar
rn-ancc of those organized ciigucS, which.
.haaCin- ike Nightmares upon American litera-
ruc, manufacture At the nod Of our principal
booksellers. apSeudO public opinion by whole
sale. These are objects of which no man
need be ashamed. They aie purposes, moro
over, whose novelty at least will give them
interest. For assurance That ! will fulfil
them in tie best spirit and 10 the very letter,
| appeal with confidence To the many thoJi-
sands o my friends, and especially of my
southern friends who sustained me in the
Messenger. where | had but Z very partial
opportunity of completing my own plans.
In respect - the features of the Penn
Magazine. 4 few words here viii suffice. IL
will onGeavor 70 support the gener ! interests
OF the republic ui letters, without reference
to particular regions: regarding the world al
large rs the true audience of the author. Be
voud the precincts o:.IIcrature. properly So
He'd, it will leave in letter hands the task
ot instruction upon MI matters ofvery grave
moment. Its aim cLirlly shah he 70 please:
and this through ne ms Cf versatility, origin
and puncCncv. 1t may be rs well
here TO observe tliat nothing said in this
Prospectus should be construed into a de-
SIN OF sullying Tie Magazine with any inc
ture Of The tuiloonery. scurrility, or p%roiani-
" which are the b.cmjSh oi SAa.e of the most
o! the European prints. In all
branches of the literary department, tho
best AID, from the highest and purest sources,
is secured.
To the mechanical execution of the work
the greatest attention will he given which
such 4 matter can require. In this respect it
is proposed to surpass. by very much, the
ordinary MAGAZINE STYLE. The form will
nearly resemble that of the Knickerbocker;
the paper will lie equal to that of the North
Review; the pictorial embelIish-
nents will be numerous, and BY the leading
Irtists of the country. but will he introduced
onlv 10 the illustration Of the text.
The Penn Magazine will be published in
on the first Of each month, and
form. half yearly. n volume ofabout 500
The price will be So per annum.
in advance. or upon the receipt OF