The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-11-20

SPECTUS
or THE THIRD VOLUME OF
ARTHUR'S LADIES' MAGAZINE.
Pace ONLY 81 PER ANNuM.
40 Pages Reading Matter besides TACO Ell
egant Steel Plates, IN Each Number!
lYNHE Publishers, IN sending forth their Pros
pecus for the third volume of their Maya
zine, which exclusively and permanently under
the editorial control Of I. S. ARTHUR, believe
that they can offer to the public most substantial
claims TO patronage. Tie frat and second volumes
have been lodged all hands To be equal and
many respects superior, in character strengh inter
est and aractiyeness TO any of the issued.
The aim Of the Editor is high ons. He repudates
the long prevalent system Of basing his work upon
the reputation Of contributors whose articles mat
Ter what they hare done, are in too many instances,
below mediocnty.
Nothing gains admission into the pages Of this Ma
gazine which Is not excellent In itself. The source
from which an article comes IS secondary-its merits
always primary. Such rule, strictly carried out,
must give character TO any work Ii has given "Ar-
thurs Magazine character already acknowledged
in all respectable quarters where has been received
Among The nex haustbe sources that open up TO the
hands OF literary caterer, German and French Lite
nature offer wide field for selection Into this region,
with admirable corps Transators we are steadily
penetrating astonshed at every step by the riches
meet. Especially is this the in Liter ature. Al
ready have given splendid articles from the
German, brim full of pure trdIhs and orcibe Illus
trations of the power of goodness. "Silent Love-"
"The Governor and his Successors, "The Unknown
Patient" "The Russian Prince" "The Privy Coun-
sellor," &c. &C., all who have read will remember
| with delight.
| From the French have also given many first
rate articles. "The Perplexed Lovers" from Mad.
anne de Genls, also, "The Lesson of Misfortune
| nd he If from pte
with fine tales from Dumas, Lacrolx, Nodier, Balzac,
| and other authors of celebrity.
In seleating from the French, our transators are
guided by slric. regard to purity and excellence.
None know better than they do how much that is
Objectionable abounds in the light literature of this
people But, flowing along by the side of this impure
current is another as lucid and clear crystal -
From this they dip up the bright waters and present
them to our lips.
At this fountain we shall continue to let our read.
| ers drink. But, In doing So we shall not neglect
| the excelencies OF our own native literature.
This would be the worst of folly. Yet in doing
this we shall make no parade of names. The public
are getting to understand pretty clearly how much
| this Is WORTH and to discover that excellence is not
always to be found in the fugitive productions of
writers who have done we'll in books Our country
is teemIng with young genius, too often overshadow
| ed and hidden by the successful who possess not
half their intrinsic worth and whose writings exert
not half so healthy an influence. They are crowded
from the path in which they fitted to walk, and
their merits kept out of sight by few who have
gained the public and eye, and who are kept be-
fore the public, not much account Of the sup
ror excellence Of what they are giving forth, as on
account of ,chat they hare done.
| To merit, wherever We find it, we will give the
| right hand of fellowship. We would not accept
poor article from the most celebrated writer in the
county; but good one, let it from where it
will, shall find welcome.
In all sources, at home and abroad we shall seek
the good, the true and the beautiful. For some time
and with too much BUSINESS in the allegation, our
Magazines have been charged with being too light
and trashy. This fault have from the first stead
ly avoided ARTHUR'S MAGAZINE" will
continue to sustain high character for excellence in
all It's departments. Something more than mere love
tales will be given Its stories, while full of deep
and absorbing interest," or sparkling with wit and hap
ply feelings, will have in them soul-a living soul of
goodness and truth. Reviews, essays and sketches,
with poetry that shall be truly called such, will be
blended with them in just proportion
Thus much in regard TO the literary department of
our Magazine. Another matter claims our attention
that OF Pictorial Embellishments. Custom nd taste
have rendered them Indispensable in a literary work
like ours. We shall not stand TO argue the matter
with custom and taste, but proceed to open up our in
tentions this head. First, then, we have deter
mined to present the subscribers to " ARTHURS
MAGAZINE" during the year, with a novelty
Of highly attractive character. No less than a
series of Six Female Characters from Shakespeare |!
engraved on steel IN highly finished style. This
Shakespeare Gallery Of Beauty will present mboded
to the eye, some of the noble bards most beautiful
creations Of the mind, well OF two celebra-
ted characters IN history, around whom his magic
pen has thrown a new charm. What lover of the
Poets immortal creations will be eager to secure
this Splendid SERIES OF ENGRAVINGSi-
Not one, surely. Every possessor OF copy of Shaks-
peare and whose library does not contain his works
w have, at meIe nominal cost SIX exquisite ius tra-
lions, not to be obtained in any other way. This i,
certainly great desderaium. But besides these beau
ties from Shakespeare we are making arrangements
to procure series Of female figures far surprising in
lovelness Of form and face aud exquisite finish any
thing that has yet appeared in any American Maya.
zine Celebrated Views this and other countries wi
also be leading feature IN work. For the Janu-
AIRY number We shall give highly wrought view OF
the Bridge of Doom over which Tam O'Shan,er fed
in such hot haste from the kirk and the witches Til.
splendid steel plate will accompany the first of our
Shakespeare beauties, and will make that number o,
our work highly attractive one. Ne less so will be
that for February Nor shall there he any falling 4
the style of establishment, or IN the character OF
the literary contents of the work. From the first
we have aimed at a gradual Improvement We do
not issue one or two good numbers and then afeI
our list of subscribers is filled up, fall or But we
endeavor TO make every number better than the one
tina, preceded it. Excellence, have before said
sour aim.
Bot bes des our Shakespeare Gallery our Gallery OF
Female Beauty, our Celebrated Views, we shall in
troJuce from time TO time other attractions in the way
of embellishments.
10 addition to the foregoing, there is yet another
feature, no less than American Novel from
the pen Of the Editor, which will be commenced in
the January number, and continued until completed
This will be within the year, so that all who sub
scribe for the Magazine during lSi5 will receive
this new work. Those who have read "Bell Mar.
un," Fanny Dale, }" Characterization, "SI Nights
with the Washnrtonsns," "Sweetbeeus and
Wives &c. &c. from the pen OF MIR. Arthur pecc
: not be told that this feature will be leading one.
In addition to this, MI Arthur will also continue
to furnish for its pages his shorter stories, hos
pointed moral essays, told with much skill, beauty
and power. The attractions Of the Editors pen
will, in fact, form feature of peculiar ntores, L