Arkansas intelligencer. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1842-1859, 1844-03-09
",aBlE rsstasri 4 PROSPECTUS ~, 4 ;'
SOUTHERN L1r,s 81 TAI MESSENGERS.

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
yHyHlS 10 a monthly Magazine, devoted chiefly
= to Literature, but occasionally finding room
also for articles that fall within the scope Of Sci
snce; and protesting no disdaiD of tasteful selec
sions. though its matter has been, as it will con
nue. to be, in The main, original.
Party Politics and controversial Theology, as
far as possible. are jealousy excluded. They are
sometimes so blended with discussions in litera-
ture or 10 moral science, otherwise unobjectona-
ble as to gain admittance for the sake Of the more
valuable matter to which they adhere but when
ever that happens, they are incidental, only; not
primary. They are dross, tolerated only because
they cannot we'll DO severed from the sterling ore
wherewith it is Incorporated. @
Reviews, and critical notices occupy their due
space in the work: and it is the Editors aim that
they should have three-fold tendency-to con-
vey, in condense form, such valuable truths or
incidents as are embodied in the works reviewed.
to direct tho readers attention to books that de-
serve 10 be read-and to warn him against vast
ing time and money upon that large number,
which merits only to be burned. In this age Of
publications, that by their variety and multitude
distract and overwhem every undiscriminating
student, Impartial criticism. governed by the
Vows Just mentioned, is one of the most inestima-
BILE and indispensable Of auxilaries, to him who
does acish to discriminate.
Essays, and Tales, having in view utility or
AMUSEMENT, or both-Hstorical Sketches and Re-
miniscences Of events too minute for History, yet
Calculating il, and frightening its Interestingly
be regarded as forming the staple of the work.
And of Indigenous Poetry enough is published
sometimes of no mean strain--to manifest and
to cultivate the growing taste and talents of the
country. s-s-. IN IN .g.E- - LIZ
The times appear for several reasons, to demand
such work-and not one alone, but many. The
public mind is feverished and irritated still from re-.
cent political strfes: the soft assuasiye influence of
Literature is needed, to allay that fever and sothe
that irritation. Vice and folly are rotng abroad:
they should be driven by indignant rebuke, or
lashod by ridicule, into their fitting haunts, Ig-
noraace lords it over an immense proportion of
our peoples: every spring should be set in motion.
to arouse the enlightened, and TO increase their
number; SO that the great enemy of popular GO
yernment may no longer brood, like porten,ous
cloud, over the destinies Of our country. And to
accomplish all these ends, what more powerful
agent can be employed, than periodical on the
plan Of the Messenger: if that plan be but car.
fied out in practice. -------a'---.-
ia The South peculiarly requires such an agent
In oil the Union, south Of Washington, there are
but two Literary periodicals.! Northward of tina,
city, there are probably at least twenty-five or
thirty! Is this contrast justified by the wealth,
the leisure, the nntive talent, the actual litera
!, ~ taste Of tho Southern people, compared with
those Of the Northern? No; for in wealth, Ia.
Tents and taste, we may justly claim at least an
equality viii our brethren; and domestic institu.
O ton exclusively our own, beyond all doubt afford
u.s. if we choose. twice the leisure for reading and
writing which they enjoy.
II was from deep sense of this Local want
that the word Southern was engrafted on the name
Of this periodical; and not with any design to
nourish local prejudices, or to advocate supposed
local interests. Far from any such thought, it is
the Editors fervent wish, to see the North ano
South bound endearingly together forever, in the
sken bands of mutual kindness and Affection
Far from meditatng hostility to the north, he ha:
already drawn, and hopes hereafter to draw, much
OF his choicest matter thence; and happy indeed
will hs deem himself, should his pages, by making
each region know the other better, contribute If
any essential degree to dispel forever the lower
ing clouds that so lately threatened the peace o.
both, and to brighten and strengthen the sacrec
ties Of fraternal love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now
commenced its ninth volume and ninth year.
How far it has acted out the ideas here uttered
Is not for the Editor to say. He believes, howev
or, that it falls not further short of them, thar
human weakness usually makes Practice faI
short of Theory. .HlagJ5i
Richmond, Va. October, 1913.