Hints for Improvements. 179 



publications, and by none more than by your valuable and delightful 

 Magazine, is evinced by the increased number of its students, especially 

 among the young and ardent, in every part of the country, and by the 

 altered feelings and sentiments of many who formerly looked down upon it 

 with contempt. From the unalloyed pleasure experienced at every step 

 of our progress through this enchanting and exhaustless field, the number 

 of its votaries must, with the progress of education and knowledge, keep 

 increasing; and this view of it at once points out the ample support such 

 an establishment would receive, and the numerous contributors who would 

 supply it with specimens. So well assured am I of its success in proper 

 hands, that did I know any competent person to whom its fair and reason- 

 able profits would be an object, I would at once, on my own responsibility, 

 urge him to undertake it. You, Sir, or some of your readers, probably do ; 

 for there are doubtless many, well qualified both from their zeal and know- 

 ledge of tbe science, who would rejoice at the proposal,, particularly if it 

 should be the means of releasing them from some present toilsome and 

 uncongenial occupation which absorbs all their time and thoughts. Let 

 me, however, suggest, that no private feeling of friendship, or laudable 

 desire to benefit an individual, should be allowed to operate in recommend- 

 ing one not perfectly competent. Much of the prospective advantage, 

 both to the naturalist, and, consequently, to himself,; would depend upon 

 this. When a proper person comes forward, let him, before he embarks in 

 the undertaking, be introduced to two or three scifentific naturalists in 

 different departments, who, by a few questions, would soon judge of his 

 fitness for the situation, and would gladly sign a recommendation in his 

 favour, to be inserted in your Magazine. The lovers of natural history 

 might then be requested, through the same medium, to lay the foundation 

 of his stock in trade, by sending up any uncommon birds, insects, dried 

 plants, seeds, &c,., their respective neighbourhoods may produce; the 

 strongest stimulus to do which will be, that they will receive in exchange 

 the rare or beautiful productions of other districts, otherwise unattainable, 

 to increase and adorn their own collections. Thus all will be mutually 

 benefited, and the cost to each will only be a little energy and skill to 

 rise betimes, and employ their leisure in the delightful and healthy occupa- 

 tion of ranging the field, the mountain, and the grove, in search of subjects, 

 and in preparing them for the cabinet. As the season is now commencing, 

 I would say to your young readers, let it not be lost; preserve as many 

 specimens as you can, in anticipation j they will" find their value at the 

 general mart, and will, in another shape, be return to you tenfold : for you 

 must recollect that what you contribute is only a surplus which you do 

 not want, and cannot use yourself, while you will receive in exchange for 

 them what is only to be found in different and distant parts of the country. 

 The portion of labour in the good work I would assign to you, Mr, 

 Conductor, is to offer your pages and advice in maturing the proposed 

 plan, to give any private assistance and instructions to the individual, 

 and to solicit competent persons to affix to every species of indigenous 

 plants, insects, &c., a number expressing its value, as suggested by 

 H. C. W. These values should be fixed, or at least revised, by several in- 

 dividuals in each department, to insure accuracy, and catalogues should 

 then be printed. You will not, I am sure, think I require too much ; 

 indeed I consider we have some claim upon you; for having by your 

 Magazine excited so general a taste for natural history, you must also 

 enable us to gratify it. It appears to me, that the greatest service you can 

 render the British naturalist, and second only in importance to your 

 Magazine, will be to promote the establishment of the proposed depot. 



The simplest plan for effecting exchanges would perhaps be, to value 

 both those sent up and those returned, by the numbered catalogue, 

 deducting a fixed per centage or commission for trouble and profit to th« 



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