PROSPE CTUS

 THE Southern Literary Messenger
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EENHIS is monthly Magazine, devoted chiefly to

 I LITERATURE, t..t- occasionally finding room also for articles that fall within the scope of SeIENcE and proessngno dsdan of tasteful selections though

 it's matter has been, 1t will continue 10 be- in the main, original

 Party Politics and controversial Theology as far as possible are jealously excluded They are some times so blended with discussions in literature or in moral science, otherwise unobectionable, to gain admittanee 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 wherewth 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-fold tendency-to convey, in a 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 inostmable and indispensable of auxiliaries, to him who 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 vet encidating it, and heghtening its interests-may be regarded as forming the staple of the work And of indigenicus Poetry, enough is published-some- times of no mean strain-to manifest and to cult- 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 irritated stl from re- cent political srifes the soft assuasive influence of Literature is needed, to allay that fever and soche that irritation. Vice and folly are roting abroad - they should be driven by indignant rebule, or lash ed by ridcule, into their fitting haunts Ignorance lor5S n DrODOrtIon Of pnopIe |. 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 dest- 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 Union, south of Washington, there are but two Literary periodicals Northward of that city, there probably at least twenty five or thr- 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 we may justly claim at least an EQUALITY with our brethren; and domestic institution exclusively our own, beyond all doubt afford us, 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, or to advocate supposed local inter- ests. Far from any such thought it is the Editors fervent wish, to the North and South bound en- dearingy together forever, in the silken bands of mutual kindness and affection. Far from meditating 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 so lately threatened the peace of both, and to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of fraternal love.

 The Southern Literary Messenger has now con- menced its ninth rolume, 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 falls not further short of them, than human weakness usually makes PRACTICE fall short of THEORY.

 Richmond,t "a. October, IS43.