Virginia Argus

PROSPECTUS

OF

A

Monthly Magazine,

AN

LITERARY JOURNAL;

TO

BE

Printed and Published in Winchester, (Va.) under the direction of

JOHN. HEISKELL.

MONTESQUIEU, who may be justly considered a master in the science of Political Economy, has wisely remarked, that free governments, to be durable, must have their foundation laid in the wisdom and virtue of the governed. The history of free governments, both ancient and modern, (if any have existed to which that character could be fairly attributed,) furnish conclusive evidence to the truth of that great writer's position. It is a painful reflection, that Republics have been ephemeral and short lived. The proud structures of Grecian and Roman liberty, whose apparent strength gave promise of Millennial duration, might still have remained the wonder and admiration of the world, had not the dissemination of useful knowledge, and the practice of Virtue, given place to the eternal round of gaudy and enervating games and exhibitions, devised and multiplied by ambitious men for their destruction. Every effort, therefore, calculated to diffuse useful knowledge, mend the heart, and inculcate principles of sound morality, under a government proudly pre-eminent in the scale of Republics, such as the wisdom of our forefathers established for the people of the United States, may be considered a key-stone in the arch of our political fabrick, & may justly claim the patronage of all who participate in its inestimable blessings. It may be safely asserted, the surest barrier to the destruction of our free government, is to keep the people virtuous, and sufficiently enlightened to know and appreciate their own rights: And until a national system of education be adopted, and carried into execution, that general diffusion of knowledge, so essential to the preservation of our government, in its pristine purity, can be effected in no way so extensively, as through the medium of periodical publications; embracing subjects of useful learning, calculated to promote virtue and enlarge the understanding--adapted, in cost, to the economy of every class in society, and in size and extent, to the leisure of every man whatever may be his pursuits. Publications of the foregoing description, cannot be too much cherished or extended. It would be for the happiness and welfare of our country, if every town and village contained one of those pure fountains of instruction, to the exclusion of gazettes, which make the domestic politics of our country too often the theme of party violence, rancour and falsehood. In Virginia, it is to be lamented, not a solitary journal, conducted upon these principles, is to be found; while every insignificant village affords at least one gazette, devoted to the discussion of topics calculated to arouse all the turbulent passions of the human heart. A periodical work will be published in Winchester as soon as sufficient patronage is extended to the undertaking, to be entitled "THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE AND LITERARY JOURNAL"

This work will be made, as far as is practicable, a repository for USEFUL KNOWLEDGE, Calculated to instruct and amuse its patrons. To effect this object, all the distinguished periodical publications, both Foreign and Domestic, within the reach of the Editor, will be procured, from which it will be his unceasing solicitude, assisted by literary friends, who have kindly promised their aid, to make the most judicious selections--carefully avoiding all subjects calculated to excite passion, arouse intemperate controversy and particularly avoiding domestic politics.

Much original matter cannot be promised--every occasion, however, will be seized with pleasure, to present to the patrons of the work, original communications upon Agriculture, or subjects connected therewith, whenever the facts they contain promise to be useful. Selections will be industriously made from foreign and domestic publications on the culture of the soil.--Agriculture being the basis of our national prosperity, this subject will engage the particular attention of the Editor. This work will also be made the repository of important state papers, and documents relating to the population, commerce, manufactures and public revenue of the United States, and particularly of Virginia--in fine, it will contain miscellaneous articles relating to every subject proper for insertion in a literary journal: and to the votaries of the Muse, and lovers of Anecdote, the Editor promises, that an ample share of his attention shall not be wanting. With the foregoing pretensions to the favor and patronage of the public, he submits the following

CONDITIONS OF PUBLICATION:

I. "The Monthly Magazine and Literary Journal" will be published on the first of every Month, with a small new type, and on paper not inferior to the Port Folio--Each number, shall contain sixty four octavo pages [royal size paper.] Its execution shall be inferior to no other periodical publication in the United States.

II. The Price per annum will be FOUR DOLLARS, payable, one half on the receipt of the first number, the remainder at the commencement of the second half year.

III. The numbers will be so arranged as to form two volumes in each year, and a title page and index will be given with each volume.

IV. No Subscription to be discontinued except at the end of the year, and on payment of what then may be due.

V. Those persons who may procure ten subscribers and become accountable for the payment, will be entitled to one copy

The work will be forwarded by Mail to any part of the State, at fifty cents per annum, or to any part of the United States at seventy-five cents. Its publication will commence the first of April, if three hundred subscribers shall then have been obtained.

Gentlemen to whom Proposals have been sent, will please to return a list of the names they may have procured, previous to the 10th March.--The printed Proposals may remain with the possessor.

Subscriptions are received at the Office of the Virginia Argus

[3n]

BLANKS

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