Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-10-08

"E have long regarded il as most hui
w initiating reflection upon the South, that
no professedly neutral family Journal has yet
been sustained within her borders. We have
tested the experiment whether such paper
could not be supported at the immediate South,
and though not wholly unsuccessful, our ex-
perience has taught us that the papers of this
class published in the large Northern cities,
possess advantages over those Of the country,
which, in measure, defy competition. But
here the case is different. Baltimore, standing
as it does on the frontier of the Southern States
is yet near enough to the great commercial,
literary and political emporium, TO be included
in the neighborhood of great American cities,
and to enjoy all the advantages, as radiating
point, which are possessed BY either Philade[
phia, Boston or New York A paper issued
from Baltimore has all the facilities for obtain
ing the latest literary intelligence, as well as
the current literature of the day, foreign and
domestic, that are enjoyed by the journals Of
the Northern cities. The WESTERN CONT
HENT is as large, as cheap, and can be better
adapted to the ,raflts and tastes Of Southern read
ers, than those Northern papers which now
draw so large an amount of their patronage
from the Southern public.
Entertaining these views, we have locked
with confidence TO the success OF the CoNTI-
sEsr. Eight months experience has tended
TO strengthen that confidence, and now we en-
ter upon its publication with firm conviction
that all that is necessary 10 secure for il cir
culation equal TO that of its Northern cotempo-
raries, is a faithful and energetic devotion OF
our best abilities to make it a useful and enter
taining Family Journal Ii is our design 10
make the WESTERN CONTINENT emphatically
a Southern family paper, that may be read with
interest and profit by every member of South
ern family. With this view, we shall draw
for our literary department, from the best sour
ces, such matter as will interest and entertain
the mind, without offending the taste or cor
rupung the morals OF our readers.
Pains will be taken to give the latest intelli-
gence on all subjects of interest to the general
reader, to the exclusion of the vast amount OF
local matter, such as personal gossip, police
reports, theatrical and other criticisms, which
make up so large portion Of the staple OF
some of the popular weekles of the North
In word, though we sh all endeavor TO make
our paper interesting TO all, our chief aim shall
be to adapt it to the wants and tastes oil the
people of the South and South West. upon
whom, and those of our own city who are dis
posed to sustain such journal, we must main
ly depend for support.
Relying more on the intrinsic merits OF our
paper, than upon any promise, we might make
in prospectus, we will close by appealing to
the readers of the South and West for share
of that patronage which they so literally be
stow upon the oyergrown weeklies OF the North.
TERMs.-The Wesie,n Continent is printed
on mammoth sheet OF 80 by Al inches, on
fair type, and securely mailed to subscribers,
at 81 per annum, IN advance. Three copies
will be sent tor s., or Seven copies for $40.
All letters on the business of subscriptions
to be addressed, post paid. TO the Editor.
w. r. THOMPSON,
SAMUEL SMITH.
baltimore Sent H. 1916.