Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-03-16
TENTH VOLUME.
OF TIE
Southern Literary Mcssen-
ger,
E'0E ESG3.

The present number completes the XIII
volume Of the Messenger; and the time
has arrived for announcing the XIII TO lis
Patrons and the Public. The character
ard objects of The WORK are now iu!'y
sh wn, and also how far these Objects nave
been attained. The test of nine years
has conclusively shown, that Southern en-
ergv, taste, talent. and Iiheraity. can sns-
tain Literary Journal, Inferior 20 n ne,
and, in the opinion of many imp"rtIal
Judges. superior to all the peri 'di"als pub
llshed in the United States. VIII Il assn-
rance does not this give for the futner! -
That energy shall not flag; that talent is
improved BY past exercise. invigoraied and
polished for yet higher ,rumohs; sparks
are klndled that once appeared to he extin-
gulshed; and newborn genins is spr aiding
it, wings for noble flights. That Liberal
ty is nourshed by renewed prosperity, g.
men, l1ieiy s'in ed in mental luxury. or
having learned in adversely the cheapness
and blessedness Of Literary solaces and
delights, will open purse and heart to re-
ceive every pure intellectual Offering. The
hSNoCliECI s'IlNllS' my SHuH CfHfm liltA
patronage; for its character and Contents
shall ever be worthy Of encouragement e.
appreciation. RELYING upon its own excel
Iencc, as it always has done, it must and
shall prove itself most worthy of support.
Its contributors have always been Of the
first order OF talent, native and cultivated,
vigorous and polished; and such thew will
n fO hn -t 4c he
tiers for the work will soon be published;
and tie hubble will then see by what names
and what pens, the Messenger has been
sustained, adorned and honored Its mat
Ter shall bG! choice, embracing prose and
poe,ical articles, of the first beauty aud
merit, mostly original, sometimes selected.
Pleasure shall ever be combined with utiI-
Ity and moral improvement; and the char.
acterstlc so|iditv Of lis matter shall lie,
in great degree, still preserved. This
must arise necessarily from the character
OF its contri butors and the lofty aims of
the work. Rejecting the foam and fro,h,
it will present the pure clear waters OF the
fountain. Where the waters f,lI. wifh
noise and clamor, the foth is found; but
the Messenger dips where they flow OF
gracefully in pellucd stream
Measures Of publi: policy and general
utility have always been discussed with
eminent ability in the Messenger, which
has even had the honor Of originl ing
measures fer the action of Congress The
people Of the west are now r inIng in
the establishment of a Naval Depot, at
Memphis, and commissioners have recent.
" arrived there to carry the plan into ope-
ration. They should not forget, that the
| Messenger was the advocate. and one of
| her ATTEST contributors the author of The
scheme.
The West is, in many essential circum-
| stances, identified with the South, and
both require an agent like The Messenger,
TO indicate their institutions, to maintain
their Interests, 10 reflect their sentiments,
and to illustrate and uphold their Liiera-
ture. In all tho widespread West and
South, there are few Literary periodicals;
(rhongh MANY Of the newspapers display
"a good deal of literary taste,) whilst in the
North, there are mnItitudes, and new
ones springing up every week
The price Of the Messenger has been
objected to Ivy some. Five dollars is a
very convenient sum for many reasons;
but convenience is NJ ground for demand
ing it. There is no monthly in the United
States Of the size and character of the
Messenger, that does not charge five dol
lars; whilst many, North and South, charge
more in proportion. If one attend five or
six fashionable concerts. take FIVE or six
box tickets to the theatre, or subscribe to
one ball, or one Political club dinner. hs
cheelfulIy spends five dollars. Shall he
not much more readily spend it Tor the
Messenger? If it b. worth having, it
shall be worth the full price that has al
ways been asked. The terms could not
be reduced without greatly di~paraging
the work.