Stej)hens^s " Illustrations of British Entomology. ^^ 307 



supply " in December; in December, to deliver it gratis; in 

 January, that it " will shortly appear ; " in February, that 

 "if possible in March;" now, on the 31st of March, the 

 author gravely says, "It mil appear with No. xliii.," placing 

 his assurance in italics. 



In spite, however, of this confident assertion. No. xliii. 

 appeared on the 30th of April, with a plate of six figures 

 and one sheet belonging to the fourth volume, and only two 

 sheets of the promised letterpress to complete the third vo- 

 lume of Haustellata, accompanied by the following modest 

 address : — 



" A misunderstanding having occurred [with whom ?] with regard to the 

 time of publication of plate 21. of Mandibulata, and plate 32. of Haustel- 

 lata (intended for the present number), which was not discovered till too 

 late to rectify by the 30th inst., the former will be added to No. xliv., and 

 the latter to the conclusion of the third volume of Haustellata, which will 

 appear by the close of the ensuing month. 



« %^% 'j'j^g author takes this opportunity of stating, that the matter in 

 arrear will be published as speedily as is consistent with accuracy ; the 

 delay having enabled him to embody the more recent observations of Con- 

 tinental writers, and the discoveries of new species, in their respective 

 locations." [A plea on which the work might well be delayed for twenty 

 years.] 



This final master-stroke of policy determined me on stating 

 to you this intolerable grievance; and I ask whether any 

 thing more characterised by chicanery can possibly be con- 

 ceived than the whole affair since December last. I have 

 been compelled to go on ; and have already paid 205., and 

 am, it appears, to pay 5s. more, for that to which I am 

 honestly entitled without paying one farthing. According to 

 my calculation, relying on the proposals made on No. xxviii., 

 the author is still indebted to his supporters two plates of six 

 figures each (although, in the index to the volume, I see he 

 allows only four), and at least three more sheets of letterpress. 



As to the fourth volumes now in progress, they are at this 

 day in arrear one plate of six figures and six sheets of letter- 

 press. 



It would be impossible to find in the annals of periodical 

 publications, with which I am pretty conversant, any instance 

 of manoeuvring at all approaching this. An author is ob- 

 viously bound to adhere to his part of a contract, or act 

 so that his subscribers may withdraw their support, without 

 being forced to unnecessary expense for that purpose. But 

 Mr. Stephens makes no less than five deviations from his 

 ■> original plan, and debars his supporters from their undoubted 

 privilege. I am not singular in the view I take of the course 

 pursued by the author. His broken promises and violated 

 pledges, and the paltry advantages he has taken, have excited 



x 2 



