PROSPECTUS Southern Literary Messenger.
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SHlS IS monthly Magazine, devoted chiefly to

 X LITERATURE, but occasionally finding room also for articles that fall within the scope of ScY Ncg and professngno dsdain of tasteful selections though Its matter has been, as it will continue to be- in the main, 0rigjR0l.

 Party Politics and controversial Theology, as far as possible, are iealously excluded They are solne- times so blended with discussions in literature or in moral science, otherwise unobjectonabe as to gain ad1nttance for the sake of the more valuable matter to which they adhere: but whenever that happens, they are incidental, only not primary. They are dross, tolerated only because they cannot well be severed from the sterling wherewith it is incor- porated

 Reviews, and Critical Notices occupy their due space in the work and 1t is the Editors aim that they should have three-fod tendency-to convey, m condensed form, such valuable truths or incl dents as are embodied in the works reviewed-to direct the readers attention to books that deserve to be read-and to warn him against wasting 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 over whelm every undiscriminating student, IMPARTIAL CRITICISM, governed by the views just mentioned is one of the most inestmable and indispensable of auxIllares, to hlm who DOES WISH to discriminate.

 Essays, and Tales, having in view utility or amusement or both-Historical Sketches and Re- mlniscences of events too minute for History yet calculating it. and heightening its interests may be regarded as forming the staple of the work And of indigenous Poetry, enough is published-some times of no mean strain-to manifest and to culti- vate the growing taste and talents of the country

 The times appear for several reasons to demand such a work-and not alone, but manv The public mind is fevershed and rrtated still from re- cent political srifes the soft assuasiye influence of Literature Is needed to allay that fever and soohe that irritation. Vice and folly riotng abroad :- they should be driven by indignant rebuke or lash ed by rdicule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance or every spring should be set in motion to arouse the enlightened. and to increase their number so that the great enemy of popular government may no longer brood like portentous cloud over the desti- nies of our country. And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful agent can be employed than periodical on the plan of the Messenger il that plan be but carried out in practice

 The SOUTH peculiarly requires such an agent In all the Union, south of Washington there aTe but two Literary periodicals Northward of that city thersare probably at least twenty-five thr- ty Is this contrast justified by the wealth, the les- ure the native talent the actual literary taste oi the Southern people, compared with those of the Northen' No; for in wealth, talents and taste, we may justly claim at least an EQUALITY with ouI brethren; and domestic institution exclusively our own, beyond all doubt afford us, five choose, twice the leisure for reading and writing which they enjoy

 It was from deep sense of this LOCAL want that the word SOUTHERN was engraited on the name ot this periodicals and not with any design to nourish local prejndces, to advocate suppesedlocal inter- ests. Far from any such thought it is the Editors feryent wish, to see the North and South bound eil- dearingly together forever in the silflen bands of mutual kindness and affection. Far from medtatng HOSTILITY to the north, he has already drawn, and he hopes hereafter to draw, much of his choicest matter thence; andhappy indeed will he deem him self, should his pages, by making each region know the other better, contribute in any essential degree to dspe forever the lowering clouds that lately threatened the peace of both, and to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of lraternal love.

 The Southern Literary Messenger has now con- menced its ntnth rotme, and aiah yeGr. How far il has acted out the ideas here uttered is not for the Editor to say He believes, however, that it falls not further short of them, than human weakness usually makes PRAcTIcE fall short of ofTHEoRY

 Richmond, Va. October, 1S43.