Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-11-05
EDITED BY w. T. THOMPSON,
Author Of major Jones' Courtship." CHRONICLES
Of Pineylie,' Nc. &c.
Terms--Two Dollars In Advance.

WE 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 a measure, defy competition. But
here the case is different. Baltimore, standing
as it does on the frontier Of the Southern States,
is vet 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 radlatlng
point, which are possessed by either Philadel-
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
SENT is rs large, as cheap, and can be better
adapted to the tcalts and tastes o. 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 looked
with confidence 10 the success OF the CoETI-
NENT Eight months experience has tended
to strengthen that confidence, and now we en-
ter upon It's publication with firm conviction
that all that IS necessary to secure for il cir
eulation equal TO that of its Northern cotempo-
raries, is a faithful and energetic devotion of
our best abilities TO make it useful and enter
tanning Family Journal. 1t is our design TO
make the WESTERN CONTINENT emphatically
Southern family paper, that may be read with
interest and profit by every member ola 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
rupting 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 weeklies of the North
In a word, though we shall endeavor to make
our paper interesting to all, our chief aim shall
be to adapt it TO the wants and tastes Of 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 promises we might make
in prospectus, we will close by appealing to
the readers OF the South and West for a share
of that patronage which they so literally be-
stow upon the overgrown weeklies of the North.
TERMs.-The Western Continent is printed
on mammoth sheet Of 80 by 4i inches, on
fair type, and securely mailed TO subscribers,
at 81 per annum, in odrance. Three copies
will be sent Tor s., or Seven copies for $40.
Al letters on the business of subscriptions
to be addressed, post paid, 10 the Editor.
W. L. THOMPSON,
SAMUEL SMITH.
Baltimore, Sept. II, 1916.