The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-02-04
PROSPECTUS
THE
WESTERN CONTINENT.

"A Southern Family Newspaper Of the large,t
size. Published erery Saturday in HE Ciiv
81 Baltimore, by Samuel Smith g. Co. Ed.
lied by W. Il. Thompson. author Of" .Jaior
jones Comtship.' :. Chronicles of Pine.
rite, Sc, &C. Terms, Itco Dollars IN adj.
rance
WE have long regarded it most humiatinr
w reflection upon the south, that no pIoiesscdlY
neutral family journal has yet been sustained with.
in her borders. We have tested the experiment
whether such paper could not be supported at the
immediate South and though not wholly unsuc.
ccssful, our experience has taught us that the pa.
pcrs of this class published in the large Northern
cities possess advantages over those of the country
which, in a measure, defy compe tition. But hero
the is different. Baltimore, standing it docs
ON the frontier of the Southern States, is yet near
enough 10 the great commercial, literary and po.
litical emporium, to be included in the neighbor.
hood of great American cities, and TO enjoy all the
advantages, radatng point, which are DOS.
scsscd by either PHILADELPHIA, Boston New York
paper Issued from Baltimore has all the acilites
for Obtaining the latest literary intclligeLce az
well as the current literature If the daY, foreign
and domestic, that enjoyed by the journals Of
as large, as cheap, and can be better adapted To he
canfs and tastes Of Southern readers than those Nor
thern papers which now draw so large an an cunt
of their patronage from the Southern public.
Entertaining these views, we have looked with
confidence To the success of the CoNTINENT. Eight
months experience has tended To strengthen that
confidence, and now we enter upon it's publication
with iii IN convict ton that all that is necessary to
for it a circulation equal 10 that OF its North
crn contemporaries, is faithful and energetic dc.
voton OF our best abilities make it a useful and
entertaining Family Journal. 1t is design to
make the WESTERN CoNTINENT cmphatically
Southern family paper, that may be read with in
tcrest and profit 10y every member of a Southern
family. With this view, we shall Oh aw for our lit.
crary department, from the best sources, such nat
ter as will interest and entertain the mind, with
out offending the taste corrupting Inc morals Of
readers.
Pains will be taken TO give the latest intelligence
on all subjects OF interest the general reader 10
the exclusion of the vast amount of ocal matte,'
such as personal gossip, police reports, theatrical
and other criticisms, which make up so large pOr.
ton OF the staple of some OF the popular weeklies
OF the North. In word, though we shall endea
vor TO make our paper interesting to all our che
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 city who are disposed
TO sustain such journal, must mainly depend
for support.
Relying more upon the intrinsic merits of our pa
per, than on any promises might ma kc in pros.
pectus, we will close by appealing the reader Of
the South and w est Tor a share of that patronage
which they so libcr ally bestow upon the
weckles of the North.
TERMs-Thc Western Continent is printed on
mammoth sheet of 80 by "a inches on fair tyne
and securely mailed to subsc ribers al Two Dol
LARS PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE. Three copies will
DC sent for : 5 or Seven copies for $40
All letters the business of subsc riptions TO be
addressed, post paid to the editor.
W.T.. THOMPSON.
SAMUEL SMITH.
Baltimore, august. IS46-Oct6