PROSPECTUS

 THE Southern Literary Messenger.
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YENHIS is a monthly Magazine, devoted chiefly to

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

 Party Politics and controversial Theology, as far possible, are iealously excluded. They are some- times blended with discussions in literature or in moral science, otherwise unobjeetionable as to gain admitance 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 ncor- poratcd.

 Reviews, and Critical Notices occupy their due space in the work and 1t is the Editors aim that they should have three-fold tcndency-to convey, in condensed form, such valuable truths or incl dents as are 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 to be burned. In this age of publications that by their variety and multitude distract and over whelIn every undiscriminatng student, IMPARTIAL CRITICISM governed by the views inst mentioned is of the most inestimahle and indispensable of auxiliaries, to him who DOES WISH to discriminate.

 Essays, and Tales, having in view utility or amusement, or both--Historical Sketches and Re- mnscences of events too minute for History, yet eucidating it, and heightenng it's interests, may be regarded as forming the staple of the work. And of indigenious Poetry, enough IS published-some- times of no mean strain--to manifest and to cIi- vate the growing taste and talents of the country.

 The times appear for several reasons to demand such worz-and not one alone, but many. The public mind is feyerished and irritated st from cent political strfes the soft assuasive influence of Literature is needed, to alay that fever, and soothe that irritation. Vice and folly are rioting abroad they should be driven by indignant rcbuke, or lash ed by ridicue, into their fitting hauits. Ignorance lords its an immense proportion of our people every spring should be set in motion, to arouse tic enlightened and to increase their number rso that the great enemy of popular government may no longer brood, like portentous cloud. over the des 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 Tn practice.

 The SOUTH peculiarly requires such an agemt---- In all the union south of Washington, there are but two Literary periodicals Northward of that city, there are probably at least twenty-five thir- ty Is this contrast justified by the wealth. the eis- 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 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 engrafted on the name of this periodical; and not with any design to noursh local prendices 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 siken bands of mutual kindness and affection. Far from meditating HOSTILITY to the north, he has already ,iiawn 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 ill any essential degree to dispel forever the lowering clouds that lately threatened the peace of boths and to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of lraternal love.

 The Southern Literary Messengdr has now com menced it's ninth rolumc, and ninth year. How far it has acted out the ideas here uttered, is not for the Editor to say. He believes, however, that it fas not further short of them, than human weakness usually makes PRAcTfcr fall short of THEORY,

 Ricamoad, "a. October, l543.