The Georgia mirror. (Florence, Ga.) 1838-1839, April 02, 1838, Image 4

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Prom the Southern Literary Messenger. 1 RIGHTS OF AUTHORS. N« patriotic American can do otherwise than rejoice that his country now stands high in the scale of nations, and that she is reverenced and respected by every government in the world. . he star-spangled banner of our country proudly waves in the breeze of every dime; her*commer cial relations and foreign trading interests, are ev ery day becoming more and more extended and permanent. Science and the mechanic arts, which formerly fed on foreign bounty anu ingenu ity, now extend their influence and develope their powers by the efforts of native genius and talent; and literature, which not long ago worshipped at the shrine of foreign learning and experience, at length rises, and by her own strength, wends her way through the rugged and not often straight paths of investigation and research, to the high est st at in the temple of tame. America is gra dually progressing thither; her early difficulties have been romoved; new ones have arisen; but these will be overcome by industry and persever ance. British literature will receive that venera tion its antiquity and dignity deserve, without the •ervile llattory which characterised our early his tory; while both countries will mutually exchange those courtesies which intelligence and civiliza tion in each require. To emulate the literary zeal and character of our mother country, is cer tainly creditable to our national mind; to do them honor and reuder them justice, is unequivocally our duty; and when this is done, we secure our own advantage, and place our own character on a sure foundation. The fathers of our country had a reference to its prosperity in the aforesaid respects, when en goged in the formation of our constitution—an instrument replete with judgement, discretion and picscicnce, in so for as human calculation enuld oxtend. It is provided that “Congress shall have power ’ "to pvomote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times, to au thors and inventors, the exclusive right to their respect,vc writings anil discoveries.” Congress is also invested with authority to enact such laws as shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing power.” The protection of “autiiors and inventors” from anv infringement ♦if their rights, is clearly the design of the consti tution—its ultimate object the promotion of sci ence and the useful arts. “Authors and inven tors’ who may be the subjects of another gov ernment, are not excepted by the Constitution, which therefore virtually, or rather negatively, ac knowledges the universality of mind—the bound less lustre or radiance that emanates from genius and intelligence. The productions of the mind Wherever they originate, are illimitable in their in fluence. I hose which are useful to every nation should have a shield of defence thrown around them, that will secure, to their author those rights and that protection, which the laws of nature in rensou and justice award to him, and which there fore should be legally acknowledged and tendered bv every government in every civilized nation. ; he results of intellectual labor exercise a sort of Omnipresence and universal monarchy—for their authority is irresistibly felt every where; their is co extensive with the existence of mind, f here is nothing therefore which is so clearly embraced in the subjects of international law—no thing which so forcibly demands reciprocal legis lation as that protection due to genius—since the enchanting goddess soars aloft ami wings her flight to every part of the world, regardless of physical and geographical boundaries. Such is the natural inviolability of intellectual property, that if men were governed by reason and strict justice in their dealing with one another, there would be no necessity for the interference of law. This is true in respect to many things, but not more reasonable or equitable applied to any thing than the one in question. The sentiment of lh/n --kershock (He Foro Lcgatorum.) as quoted by Dr. Wheaton in his excellent work on international l.w, is strict'y ; rplicable to the case before us.— Ho says, “If all men arc men, that is to say, if they make use of their reason, it must counsel them certain thiugs which they ought to observe, as if by mutual consent, and which, being after wards established by usage, impose upon nations a reciprocal obligation,” &c.' Such obligation, a rising out of the nature of things, would be tanta mount to law, though without its penal sanctions. In consideration, however of the selfish pro pensities of mankind, which expose men of talent and genius to infringement of their rights, laws have necessarily been enacted for their protection, security and encouragement. In the carrying out of our argument, it is not necessary to state when the protecting laws of the United States were enacted—what their benefits, or what their usficiencics. A consideration of their present character will suffice for our purpose. And it must be borne in mind, that the principle for wmch we contend, aud which ought to apply to literature as well as science and art, has been re cognized by a recent law of Congress. The Hon. Henry L. Ellsworth, commissioner of pa tents, in his report to the Secretary of State, and transmitted to the select committee on the patent laws, says, “The exclusion of foreigners from the benefits of the patent law, cannot fail to be no ticed as an exception to that reciprocity which this government has ever cherished. Citizens of the United are daily taking out patents in France and England, and the subjects of those countries are greatly disappointed in being refus ed a similar privilege here. Congress has sanc tioned the principle of granting patents to foreign ers who apply to that body." This is as it should be; tho creations of genius, the out-pourings of intellect are thus invested with that superiority which belongs to them. A general and mutual incitement and encouragement will be given to the cultivation of the inventive faculties of men in all nations, while all may reasonably expect to be rewarded for their toil and industry. Wc might extend our remarks on the benefits to be derived from so just.and righteous a law, but we presume these will be obvious to every reflecting Eiind; the progress of science will be promoted and every inducement held out for enterprize and perseverance in scientific and useful pursuits. . , * irre i s °nc class of authors, however, whose rights are as yet withheld and totally disregarded • wc mean, of course, the authors of works exclu sively literary, The anomalous character of the existing fopy-rigbt law has very justly been the subject of animadversion, being subversive of tho interests both of American and foreign authors, and opposed to the true spirit of civilization, which regards the general good, aud aims at the diffusion of useful knowledge. By the operation of th, s law the eeneral good is not secured, and he progress of sound permanent literature is im peded. But m order to make this matter clear, let us examine the Iqw itself as it now stands.— The present copy-right law was approved on the ‘ J d f Februry, 1831; of epurse, it took the place of the law passed in 1790. entitled, “An act for the encouragement of learning,” and also super seded the supplement to that law passed in 1802. Inasmuch as the present law was enacted so re cently as 1831, when the errors and discrepancies of the old system must have been fully exposed, it is a little singular that the prominent deficien cies were not removed. It is true, however, that they are not removed; and no law of the United States respecting copy-right, awards to autiiors in other countries the right to benefit by the pro ductions and inventions of their own mind, in this. The eighth section of the law referred to reads thus: “ And he it further enacted. That nothing m this act shall be construed to extend to prohi bit the importation or vending, printing or pub lishing of any map, chart, book, musical compo sition, print or engraving, written, composed or made by any person not being a citizen of the United States, nor resideut within the jurisdic tion thereof.” What a startling clause is this to originate with the concentrated wisdom of a great and intelligent nation! The rights of miud are banished from our land. An individual residing in London or Baris, or being a subject of Eng land or France, may spend years, as is frequently the ease, in writing or composing a work which will benefit our race ; he has labored assiduously in order to its completion; it appears; an early copy is secured by an American publisher; it is soon issued here, and the poor unfortunate au thor receives no compensation for his labor; his men property is sold without his consent—aye, contrary to his expressed wish. There seems to be no other name than fraud for such conduct; and yet it is sanctioned by law and supported by custom. 'I he number of those that practice tins uncouilly behaviour towards distant friends, is so great that they keep each other in countenance. Thus the evil has been perpetuated, and public opinion has not denounced the violator of inter national obligations. We oiler the man of learn ing, who has unceasingly labored for our improve ment, the words of praise, and at the same mo ment seize and retain the “golden opinions” which his industry and research deserve. And is this system of injustice to be continued ? Can it bo longer borne bv intelligent Americans? No!— The rights of Foreign authors will be acknowl edged by the people’s representatives, and Con gress will “render unto Ciesar the things which are CirsarV—an international copy-right must and will be enacted. Every writer on this important question, who has taken what we conceive a proper view of it, has not failed to maintain that the present state of our copy-right law, instead of accomplishing the tie sign of its nactment, viz. the encouragement of learning, has unfortunately prostrated our native energies; by its operation the industry and re search of American authors have been either wholly prevented or greatly retarded. Every per son who uses a pen must be aware of the amount of time required to write a full page of a good sized book, and lienee may judge how much is ne cessary to write a volume. But the mere writing of a book is comparatively nothing. A man of soundjudgenient, who writes for the public good, weighs well his thoughts—reads and meditates up on the opinions of others. Hois at great expense in procuring works of talent, that he may liuld converse with departed great spirits, who,»though dead yet speak’” He may find it necessary to re model and rewrite his thoughts; aud after much toil and sacrifice, much anxiety and care, his w ork is at last perferted. The next object of the au thor is to secure a publisher; proposals are made; hut he finds that for years of patient, ardent and constant investigation and research, he is to be re warded w ith a few hundred dollars. The publish er can scarcely be blamed, for he has no certain prospert rd a return ol capital; and this uncer tainty is owing to the fact, that the moiety of mo ney set apart by the public tor the purchase of l ooks, is expended on those innumerable reprints of foreign novels and light publications—a taste for which has grow n out of the system, and which for the same cause can be had for almost ucthing. The market is filled, ami the native author forestal led ; his energies are crushed, and his colfer emp ty ; so, thnt in order to obtain the necessaries of life, he is constrained to engage in employment more profitable, though less honorable. 'lf he does not he must be comparatively neglected, and suffer through penury and want. There are some exceptions wc know—men who have not crouched to the demon of mental oppression, but who, con scious of their powers, have vigorously maintained the conflict w ith predilections and prejudices, and having proved themselves equal to the combat, have taken rank with the greatest minds of Eu rope. But the number is small, and will remain so it the present system is continued, and the country is flooded w ith reprints of foreign works at a shamefully trifling expense. These evils have originated in the state of the law. Is it not, there fore grossly deficient ? The design of our legis lators has been counteracted; learning has not been encouraged, and an alteration is peremptorily demanded. An international copy-right law must be enacted, if native authors are to be encouraged and remunerated. It will not be difficult to show, that the copy right law as it now stands, is injurious to the Amer ican publisher, because it negatively refuses his right to become the proprietor of a work the au thor of which happens to be the subject of anoth er government. We say negatively because a le gitimate and reasonable construction of the law would protect the American in the publication of a foreign work which he has purchased, and of w hich he is therefore the legal proprietor. In al most every section of the law it is specified, that the “author or proprietor” is the person to be pro tected from any infringement of his rights; and in reason and in law too, a citizen of the United -States may be the legal proprietor of property manufactured in a foreign land. It could never be intended to except literary property. The law does not interdict a contract between a British au thor and an American publisher; but it does not positively secure to him so contracting, the sole nght to import or vend, print or publish, that which he has paid for. The consequence is, that those who have purchased a manuscript or early copy of a foreign author, have been, and still are exposed to all the evils of competition, with none of its advantages. As soon as the work appears, it may be, and frequently is, reprinted in a few weeks or perhaps a few days; and this velocity of work manship is accounted genuine enterprize. And thus the American publisher is subjected to litera ry spoliation and absolute plunder, through the discrepancies of that law, which w as “intended tor the protection and security of copy-rights.”— These things ought not to be : protection ought to be afforded to the legal proprietor of any work, whether of nntive or foreign origin : a copy-right! as well as a patent, should be “assignable in law;” and an American publisher, who purchases a for eign work, should he rendered secure from dep- THE GEORGIA MIRROR. | redations. Enough hae been said on this point to show that the source of existing grievances is in the law of copy-right. We may as well state here, that in London, the world’s emporium of literature, a publisher who purchases an American work, is protected from piracy, we believe by law ; but we are confident he is by that inviolable cour tesy which one purchaser shows to another: hence, our authors have not unfrequently receiv ed four or five thousand dollars for a single work— at once obtaining emolument; and we may safely add that those of our native authors who have attained the acme, of popularity and honora ble affluence, sought and found them in a foreign land. England lias done her duty. In order to reciprocate the benefits our authors enjoy in other lands, and to concede the privileges we receive, it is essentially necessary, in the absence of those principles of chivalry and courtesy which protect the foreign publisher, that we should establish an international law of copy-right. We could easily show, that the system of abuse which has obtained among us, is opposed to the moral interests and mental cultivation of our pop ulation collectively; but on this point shall on!v observe, that as a light, trifling, morbid, reading disposition has been created by it, so it has cher ished a love of fictional, airy productions, in oppo sition to the solid, philosophical and useful.— Cheap novels have been published and bought, be cause they were cheap; and while these have vi tiated the public taste, they have also lowered the standard of our national literature. It is more than probable that if the law had been perfect, and had granted to all authors their natural rights, such evils would not have pervaded our land ; as it is, it will require not only an alteration in law, but strong moral courage in native autiiors and publishers to resist the encroachments of that evil genius cheap nonsense, and establish a literary standard of excellence, and a just return for the same. We must now bring our article to a close, and feel that we cannot do better than apply to the question before ns the language of that declara tion, to which our fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Some slight al terations are indicated bv italicised words: "Pru dence, indeed would dictate, that practices long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to sufler while evils are sufferable, than to right them selves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abases and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same ob ject, evinces a design to subject our nation to the charge of injustice and oppression , it is our right, it is our duty, to throw ofl such practices, and to provide new guards for the security of the inviola ble rights of genius and talent ." A LIVE YANKEE. A scene occurred before one of our Magistrates in the early part of the week, which furnished great amusement to a crowded auditory, and the particulars of which are brief] v*as follows ‘I reckon you’re a squire, aii’t you ?• said a fel low, as he whisked into office, his face red as a lob ster with the heat, and the perspiration pouring down his cheeks in a stream, which he in vain es sayed to wipe oil with a dirty cotton handker chief. ‘l’m a magistrate, sir—have yov any business with me ?’ •Guess I have that. I’ve got business forvou and two or three others. You sec I’m from Boo ting Busting—you know where Busting is I Kuess, don t you ?’—\\ pH, I comp right slick down from there in a smack, with C’ap’n Joe Whipple—our Sal was along too—oh! she’s a heavenly splice of a crittur—and Joe Whipple too he’s a severe one. So you see all the voyage I kmd o’ hitched up to Sal, and Sal she kind o’ seemed to like it, and so at last I seemed to think slic’d make a cruel good wife, for me, and told her so. She says to me, ‘Nathan’—my name’s Na than—Nathan Lumberfunction’s my name Na than,* says she, ’you’re a sort of slickish man, I guess we’ll do it.’ I reckon so too, savs I, and so you sec with I jest give her a buss in her chops by way o! stouter, and we fixed it all to go to some Squire and be spiked jest as quick as ever we could get ashore. Well, I reckon we got ashore ar trr a while, though we had some of the most dread fully awfullest storms that ever Mowed. Cap’n Joe goes along shore too—he was high up for the tun, too, 1 ran tell you, though I sort o’ thought Sal was too awfully clever to Cap’n Joe, seeing as how she was fully going to be my wife. Well you see. Magistrate —My friend, you talk a great deal too much—can’t you come to the bottom of the story at once ?’ ‘Well, I guess I’m pretty near that, any how —bo you see I and Sal and Cap’n Joe all goes streaking in down to the Squire’s, I and Sal to get married. Goin’hrng Water street, who should I sec but Jerry Bufhnn standin in a shadboat up to his eyes, I vow, in shad and herrin. Well, Jerry says I, now if that don’t beat! who’d a thor’t it,— so I an Jerry put into a shop dost by, and there we drinked—oh, Jerusalem, how wedrinked! 'fold Sal and Cap’n Joe to wait outside a minute or two for I and Jerry, cause Jerry setup to volunteer to go long too, after the drink was over.’ Mag. —Are you done ? The complainant paused a moment, looked the magistrate in the face, swelled out his cheeks, rai sed his arms, but suddenly exclaimed, “Well nev er mind that!’ and went on ‘Well, you see I and Jerry drinked there till near night, cause I kind o’ disremembered all about S.il and Can’n Joe. So when I comes back to the shallop to look artcr where they’d gone to what now do you think I saw ? By the snakes o’ Bab ylon, Squire, there was Cap’n Joe huggin my Sal around the neck, and right afore my face. By the hoky, Cap’n Joe, says I what do you mean by that are liberty ? So he said nothin to that, though he’s ridiculous fond of talking, but he and Sal bust out a laughin, and at last Cap’n Joe said when he saw that I was w retchedly hurt, ‘w hy,’ says he ‘NathanSal’s my wife!’—Oh ho, says I, and jest about let him have it slick and cruel, Squire, mind I tell ye! n Maj. But what do you want from me young —‘. cant sit and listen to your nonsense. What do you wish of me! *1 want a warrant for to take that are Cap’n,’ re plied the complainant in a voice of thunder, which scared out a crowd of brats that had gathered a round his heels during the previous harangue, him**^ — What charge do you make against Comj>. —I reckon 1 charge him w ith stealin" oft' my wife! ® jl/d/g-.—But you were not married. Comp.—' Wrr’nt we on the way to it ? nnd that’s the same thing, I guess.” A/ag.—Not at all. I rannot grant vou a war rant. \ ou’ve missed a wife by preferring a dram Clear the office, you boys there go, begone the 1 whole of you, and the disappointed complainant went out with the mob of gentlemen idlers, swel ling with indignation at hia defeat, and vowing that * he'd circumfizzle that arc varmint yet afore he got many miles nearer Boating— Philadelphia Paper. A friend tells a good story of a fellow of N. Carolina. Having been put in jail for marrying 13 wives, he mad? his escape, and was seen three or four days afterwards by a gentleman, who re cognized him. The gentleman, anxious to se cure ihe reward oft'ered tor his apprehension, in vited him to his house to dinner, and then slilv slipped out in pursuit of a constable; but grea’t was his horror, on his return, to find that the culprit had absconded with his own wife.— Louis ville Jvurnal. A Consolation.—A lady was complaining that she was near 30. A person who knew she was much oliler, replied, ‘Madam, every day removes you turthcr from your complaint.’ Napoleon being one day in company with a beautiful and very witty lady, addressed her thus, “Madam, I think women should out meddle with politics.” “In a country where women are be headed," she replied, “'it is very natural they should like to know the reason." Economy. —‘My dear, you use too mnch butter on your bread.’ said a lady, who had been married late in life, to her husband—they w ill not make butter for less than twenty five cents a pound, now-a-days.’ ‘1 do not know what they make it for,’ answered lie,’ but 1 buy it to eat upuu niv bread. A Modest Thief —A Scotch thief having been proved in the Glasgow polite Court, lately, to have stolen a herring barrel, the principal accuser proceeeed to address the Magistrate thus : "Deed Sir Bailie, the man at the bar is a great rogue. The stealing of the barrel is uaething to some of his tricks. He stole my sign-board last week, and what docs your honor think he did wT it ?" Magistrate—“ That would be hard for me to fiay.” Witness.—“Weel, sir. I’ll tell ye. He brought it into my ain shop, wi’ my ain name on’t, and oil ere and to sell me it, as he said he thought it w ould be o mair use to me than ony O i ao .o A Rhode Island constable, says the Pawtucket Chronicle, having failed to arrest the person he was in pursuit of, returned the writ with the en dnrsment, “Non est come-at-ibus et railum in swainpo," which, upon being questioned as to its meaning by the Judge, he said it was that the fellow got out of his reach by crossing a swamp on a rail. A LAUGHABLE ADVENTURE. Not long since a reverend clergyman in New Hampshire, being apprehensive that the accumu lated weight of snow upon the roof of his barn might do some damage, resolved to shovel it oft’. He therefore ascended it; but having first,for fear the snow might all slide oft at once, himself w ith it, fastened to his waist one end of a rope, and giving the other to his wife, he went to work; hut fearing still for his safety, “My dear,” said he, tic the rope round your waist.” No sooner had she done this, than off went the snow, minister and all, and up went his wife! Thus on one side of the ham the astounded and confounded clergyman hung, and on the other side hung his wife, high and dry, in majesty •sublime, dingling and dangling at the end of the rope. At°th:it moment, however, a gentleman luckily passing by, delivered them from their perilous situation. Sharp. An eastern editor in alluding to a ri val town says that “it takes several of their pigs to pull up a blade of grass, that they are so poor, the foremost seizes the spear in his mouth, the balance having taken each other by the tail, when thrv all give a pi’ll, a strong pull 'and a pull altogether, and if it breaks, the w hole tumble to the ground, for want of sufficient strength to suppoit them selves. It must take three or four such pigs to make a shadow.” PROSPECTUS OF THE Southern Literary Meseeiigrr. I HOMAS \V. WHITE, Editor and Proprietor. fJUIIS is a monthly Magazine, devoted chiefly A to Literature, but occasionally finding room also for articles that fall within the scope of Science ; and not professing an entire disdain of tasteful selections , though its matter has been, as it will continue to be, in the main, original. Party Politics, and controversial Theology as far as possible, are jealously excluded. They arc sometimes so blended with discussions in litera ture or in moral science, otherwise unobjection able, as to gain admittance for the sake of the more valuable matter to which they adhere: but whenever that happens they are incidental, only; not primary. They arc dross, tolerated only be cause it cannot well be severed from the sterling ore w herewith it is incorporated. Reviews ami Critical Notices, occupy their due space in the work : and it is the Editor’s aim that they should have a threefold tendency—to convey, in a condensed form, such valuable truths or interesting incidents as are embodied in the works reviewed,—to direct the reader* attention to books that deserve to be read—and to warn him against wasting time and money upon that large number, which merit only to be burned. In this age of publications that by their variety and multitude, distract and overwhelm!! every iindis criminating student, impartial criticism, gov erned by the views just mentioned, is one of the most inestimable and indispensable of auxiliaries to him who does wish to discriminate. Essays and Tales, having in view utility or a musement, or both—Historical sketches and Reminisences of events too minute for History, yet elucidating it, and heightning its interest may be regarded as forming tlm staple of the work. And of indigenous Poetry, enough is published—sometimes of no mean strain—to man ifest aud to cultivate the growing poetical taste and talents of our country. The times appear, for several reasons, to de mand such a work—and not one alone, but many. The puhlic mind is feverish anil irritated still from recent political strifes : The soft, assuasive influence of Literature is needed, to allay that fever, and soothe that irritation. Vice and folly are rioting abroad:—They should be driven by indignant rebuke, or lashed by ridicule, into thei'r fitting haunts. Ignorance lord* it over an im mense proportion of our people:—Every spring should be set in motion, to arouse the enlighten ed, and to increase their number; so that the great enemy of popular government may no lon ger brood, like a portcutious cloud, over the des tinies of our country. And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful agent can be em ployed, than a periodical on the plan of the Mes senger; if that plan be but carried out in t>rac tice ? '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 are probably at least twenty-five or thirty! Is this contrast justified by the" wealth, tho leisure, the native talent, or the actual literary taste of the Southern people, compared with those of the Northern? No: for in wealth, tal ents and taste, we may justly claim, at least, an equality with our brethren; and a domestic insti tution exclusively our own, beyond all doubt, af fords us, if we choose, twice the leisure for read ing and writing which they enjoy. It was from a deep sense of this local want, that the word .Southern was engrafted on this peri odical: and not with any design to uourish local prejudices, or to advocate supposed local inter ests. Far from any such thought, it is the Edi tor’s fervent wish, to see the North and South bound endearingly together, forever, in the silken bands of mutual kindness and affection. Far from meditating hostility to the north, he has al ready drawn, and he hopes hereafter to draw, much of his choicest matter thence; and happy indeed w ill he deem himself, should his pages, bv making each region know the other better contri bute m any essential degree to dispel the lowering clouds that now threaten the peace of both, and to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of fra ternal love. 'lhe Southern Literary Messenger has now reached the 11th No. of its third volume— How far it has acted out the ideas here uttered is not for the Editor to say. He believes, how - ever that it falls i.ot further short of them, than human weakness usually makes Practice fall short of Theory. CONDITIONS. 1. The Southern Literary Messenger is pub lished in monthly numbers, of 64 large super roval octavo pages each, on the best of paper, and neatly covered, at $5 a year—payable in advance. 2. Or five new subscribers, by sending their names and S2O at one time to the editor, will re ceive their copies for one year, for that sum, or at £>4 for each. 3. The risk of loss of payments for subscrip tions, which have been properly committed to thr mail, or to the hands of a post master, is assum ed by the editor. 4. If a subscription is not directed to be dis continued before the first number of the next vol ume has been published, it will betaken as a con tinuance for another year. Subscriptions must commence with the beginning of the volume and will not be taken for less than a year s pub lirntion. * 1 5. The mutual obligations of tlm publisher and subscriber, for the year, are fully incurred as soon as the first number of the volume is issued : and after that tune, no discontinuance of a subscrip tion will be permitted. Nor will a subscription be discontinued for any earlier notice, while any thing thereon remains due, unless at the option ol the Ed^nr. CARD. In tig patrons "f the Southern Literary Messenger. 'The startling cost at which this work has been established, and is sustained, and the backward ness of many subscribers in fulfilling their part of our mutual < (impact, call indispensably fi r an ap peal, not to their liberality—but to their justice, it punctual payments are ever necessarv, they arc pre-eminently so in the case of such a pubiira tion,—purely literary—almost wholly original— and destitute of the vital aid which 'newrpapns derive from advertisements. fly am. is at stake, in this enterprise.—lt is a venture, stimulated indeed by some hope of <• moluTp'; but founded largely, also, upon the w-cii w arranted expectation of rally ing h, mhein talents and Southern public spirit, around the drooping and w ell nigh prostrate banner of Smuth ern Literature. Since it has now acquired claims upon Southern justice—can it be, that these arc urged in vain ? Subscribers then, who are in arrears—and let them remember, that payment is due in advance, will, I trust, without delay, transmit t le amounts they owe to me, at Richmond, by mail, at iny risk and cost; taking proper evidence of the fact and date of mailing; and retaining a memoran dum of each note sent. . , THOMAS W. WHITE. Richmond, Nov. 24, 1837. pihbTpectis to the third volume or tiie Containing quarterly Fashion Plates, Illustrated Articles, dj-c. THE CHEAPEST PERIODICAL IN TIIE WORLD. TN commencing anew volume, the publisher X would take occasion to observe, that not only will the same exertions be continued, which have secured to his subscription list an ui>“xampled in crease, but his claims upon the public favor will be enhanced by every means which unceasing en deavor, enlarged facilities, aud liberal expendi ture can command. 1 he subjoined is a brief plan of the work : Its Original Papers will be so varied as to form a combination of the useful with the enter taining and agreeable. These will embrace the departments of useful science, essays, tales, and poetry which may deserve the name. It is the publishers design to make the Visiter agreeable to the old and the young—to the sedate and the gay—to mingle the valuable with the a musing—and to pursue the tenor of his way with the entertainment of good feelings toward all par ties. TERMS.— The A isiter is published every eth* cr Saturday, on fine white paper, each number will contain 24 large super-royal octavo pages, enveloped in a fine printed cover, forming at the end of the year a volume of nearly 600 pages, at the very low price of $1 25 cents per annum in advance, or G.| cents per number payable on de li very. I ost Masters, and others who will procure four subscribers and enclose Five Dollars to the pro prietor shall receive the sth copy gratis. AH orders addressed to the publisher, 49 Ches nut Street, post paid, will receive immediate at tention. Editors, by copying this prospectus and •' v nd< mg a paper of the. same to the office, shall re • ceivc the A tsiter for one year.