PROSPE ECTUS

 OF THE Southern Literary Messenger,
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FH NilS IS monthly Magazine, voted chiefly to

 1 LITERATURE, but occasionally finding room also for articles that fall within the scope of Scr NcE and protesting disdain of tasteful selections tough its matter has been it will continue to be- in the main, original.

 Party Politics and controversial Theology, as far as possible, are lealously excluded They some times so blended with discussions in literature or in moral science, otherwise unobjectonabe, as to gain admittance for the sake of the 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 it is the Editors aim that they should have three e-lod tendency-to convey,

 in a condensed form, such valuable truths or incl dents embodied in the works reviewed, ito 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 o be burned. In this age of publications, that by thtit variety and multitude distract and over when every undscriminatng student IMPARTIAL CRITICISM, governed by the views just mentioned, Is one of the most inastimable and indispensable of auXlaries, to him who DOES WISH to discriminate

 Essays, and Tales, having in view utility or amusement, or both-Historical Sketches and Re- miniscences of events too minute for History yet elucidating it, and heightenng it's interests, may be regarded forming the staple of the work. And or lIlulSeNlOuS Toeuy, IS puOllSHeu-SOine- 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 work-and not one alone, but many. The public mind is fevershed and rritated stiI from re- cent political strfes: the soft assuasve influence of Literature is needed, to aay that fever and soothe that irritation Vice and folly rioting abroad: they should be driven by indignant rebulie, lash ed by ridicue, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance lords its over an immense proportion of our people 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, 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; if that plan be but carried out in practice.

 The SOUTH peculiarly requires such an agent In all the nion south of ashington, there are but two Literary periodicals. Northward of that city, there probably at least twenty-five or thir ty Is this contrast justified by the wealth, the leis 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, may justly claim at least an EQUALITY with our brethren and domestic institution exclusively our own beyond all doubt afford us, if we 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 engratted on the name of this periodical; and not with any design to nourlsh local preindices to advocate supposed local inter- ests Far from any such thought, it is the Editors fervent wish to see the North and South bound en- dearingly together forever, in the silken 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 and happy indeed will he deem him. self, should his pages, by making each region know the other better, contribute in any essential degree to dispel forever the lowering clouds that lately threatened the peace of both, and to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of fraternal love.

 The Southern Literary Messengor has now com menced its ntrh rolume and ninM yeor. Hoy far it 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 PRacrIcE fall short of THEORY.

 Richmond, "a, October, lsi3,