PROSPECTUS

Southern Literary Messenger.
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vTNHTS is monthly Magazine, devoted chiefly to Il LITgRATuRg, but occasionally finding room also for articles that fall within the scope of SCI, NcE and protesting dsdain of tasteful seecons, though it's matter has been, as wl continue to bs in the main, original

 Party Politics and controversial Theology, as fas as possible, arc Iealously excluded. They some times SO blended with discussions in literature or in moral science, otherwise unobjcctonabe, as to gain admtance for the sake of the more valuable matter to which they adhere: but whenever that happens, they are incidental, only not primary. They ara dross, tolerated only because they cannot well he severed from the sterling whcrcwith it is incor. porated

 Reviews and Critical Notices occupy their due space in the work and it is the Editors aim thak they should have thlee-lold tcndency--to conveyx in aeeAdeased GeFs, vauable truths or incl. dents as 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 merritt only to be burned In this age of publications, that by their variety and multitude distract and over whelm every undiscriminating student, IMPAsrIsEr CRITICISM, governed by the views just mentioned, is of the most inestimable and indispensable of auxaries, to him who Doss WISH to discriminats.

 Essays, and Tales, having in view utility or amusement, or bosh-Historical Sketches and Re- miniscences of events too minute for History, yet elucidating it. and heightening its interests.-Iaay be regarded forming the staple of the work. And of indigenious Poetry, enough is published-som 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 one alone, but many The public mind is evershed and rrtated still from re- cent political strifes the soft assuasve influence of Literature is needed, to aay that fcver and sooths that irritation. Vice and folly riotins aorosd- they should be driven by indignant rebuke, or Iash- ed by ridcule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance lords its an immense proportion of our people every spring should be set in notion to arouse te enlightened and to increase their number; so that the great enemy of popular government may no longer brood, like potentous cloud over the desti nies of our country. And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful agent can be employed. than periodical on tbe plan of the Messenger: if that plan be but carried out in practice

 The SOUTH peculiarly requires such an asent.-- In all the tnion, south of Washington, there are but two Literary periodicals! Northwzrd of thsl city, there probably at least twenty five or thr- ty! Is this contrast justified by the wealth. the les- ure the native talent the actual literary taste of the Southern people, compared with those of the Northern No; for in wealth, talents and taste. we may justly claim at least EQUALITY with edr brethren and adomestic institution exclusively own, beyond all doubt afford us, ifwe choose. twice the leisure for reading and writing which they elje$

 It was from deep sense of this LOCAL want thex the word SOUTHERN was engratted on the name q this perodical and not with any design to nougieS local prejndces, or to advocate supposed local inter- ests. Far from any such thought t is the Edisogt dearingiy together forever, in the silken bands e mutual kindness and affection. Far from meditatink HosrILIrY to the north. he bas already dsawns an9 he hopes hereafter to draw. much of his choicest matter thence and happy indeed will he deem hin- self, should his pages by making each region knew the other better, contribute in any essential degTee to ispel forever the lowering clouds that so zsly threatened the peace of both, and to brighten sil strengthen the sacred ties of fraternal love.

 The Southern Li!erary Messeagar has now eeGA. menced its ninth rolums and nintk year. How fir t has acted out tine ideas here uttered is not fs ke Editor to say. He believes, however, that n h1e usually makes PEAcrrcs fall short of TREcar.

 Richncn4, "a. 0eoter. ls48-