, 1841-02-27
TO THE PUBLIC.

| III IHE fUDlSlC.
SINCE resigning the conduct Of The South
~ ern Literary Messenger, at the COM
mencement 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 tina, journal, abandoning or great
ly modifying the rest. Delay, however, has
been occasioned BY variety OF causes, aud
not until now have | felt myself at liberty to
altempt the exclusion ofmy design.
will be pardoned for speaking more d.
rectly of The Messenger. Having in 1t no
proprietary right, my objects too being at va
rance, in many respects, with those OF ITS
very worthy owner. ] found difficulty IN
stamping upon its pages that Individuality
which l believe essential to the iull success
OF all similar publications. In regard 10 their
permanent influence. it appears 10 me that n
continuous, definite character, and n marked
certainty of purpose, are deslderata OF vital
importance, and only attainable where one
mind alone has the general direction OF the
undertaking. Experience has rendered OBJ
vious. what might indeed have been demon
strated a PRIOR; that in founding a magazine
Of my own. lies my sole chance of carrying
out Ia completion whatever peculiar inten-
tons | may have entertained.
To those who remember the early days OF
the Southern periodical in question it will be
scarcely necessary 10 say that lis main lea
ture was 4 somewhat overdone causticity in
its 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 sternesi sense Of Justice will IermIr.
Some years since elapsed may have mellow
ed down the pciulence without interfering
with the riror of The critic. Most surely
they have not vet taught him 10 read through
the medium of a publishers will. nor con-
WINGED him that the interests of letters are
unaIlied with the interests of truth. 1t shall
he the first and chief purpose the Magazine
now proposed Ia become known rs one
where mav he found NJ all times. and upon
all subjects. an honest and fearless opinion.
1t shall lie a leading object 10 assert IN pre-
cepi, and To MAINTAIN IN practice the rights.
while in effect il demonstrates the advan-
races of an absolutely independent criticisms;
"a criticism scli->ustaincd: Guiding itself on
" BY the purC>i rules rf Art; analyzinc and
urging these rules as 1t applies them; hold
ingi,seli aloof from all personal bias; nc
knowledgIng no fear save that Of Outrag-
Ing the right; Welding no point either 10 the
vanity of the author, or to the assumptions Of
antique preludICes, or In the invIolate and an
nOnvmus cant Of QuartcriIeS. or Ia the ar
roIance "f those organized ciigueS. which,
hanging like Nightmares upon American lItera-
tue. manufacture At the nod Of our principal
booksellers. apseudo-puhlic opinion by whole
>ale. These are objects oil which no man
need he 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 10 the very letter.
| appeal with confidence To the MANY thou
sands O my friends. and especially of my
southern friends who sustained me in the
Messenger. where | had but 4 very partial
opportunity of completing my W plans.
In respect 10 the features Of the Penn
Magazine, Il few words here will suffice. 1t
will endeavor 10 support the genera interests
OF the republic Of letters. without reference
Ia particular regions; regarding the world NJ
large rs the true audience of the author. Be-
yond the precincts of literature. properly so
called, II will leave in better hands the task
of instruction upon NIL matters Oiverv grave
moment. lis aim chiefly shall he 10 please:
and this through means of versatility, origin
atty, and pungcncy. 1t may be as well
here TO observe that nothing said in this
Prospectus should be construed into Il de-
sign Of sullying the Magazine with any tine
ture of the tuiloonery, scurrility, or p%rofani-
~ which are the blemish of some of the most
vigorous 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 given which
such Il 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 be equal to that of the North
American Review; the pictorial embe'Iish-
menis will be numerous, and by the leading
artists of the country. but will he 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, n volume ofabout 500
pages. The price will be S. per annum,
payable in advance. or upon the receipt Of
the first number which will be issued on the