Retrospective Criticism, '6&& 



procure a missing Number. The 17th and 18th came out but a month 

 ago, and yet all the copies, I believe, are sold. I have not even myself a 

 perfect copy of the work, and the publishers have long been without one. 

 Such only (not being my personal friends) as are quick and regular in their 

 application, have a chance of being served. A. R. Y. will really oblige me 

 by returning his copy to me through Messrs. Longman, that it may be sent 

 to one out of the many who desire to possess the work. 

 _ I did not express my meaning clearly (p. 273.) regarding cheap publica- 

 tions in natural history j I know not, in fact, who are their authors or com- 

 pilers. To a certain extent, if done with judgment, they are eminently useful; 

 they excite a taste in young minds for studying the wonders of creation ; and 

 from what I have seen (by extracts in the papers and in this Magazine), 

 Mr. Rennie's Insect Architecture more especially deserves commendation. 

 I wish such books, in short, to be encouraged ; but there is a wide differ- 

 ence between dispersing that knowledge which has been acquired, and adding 

 to that which we are already possessed of; between putting the details in a 

 pleasing form, and combining them to illustrate the general laws of nature. 

 The simple-minded mechanic makes the iron work of a steam-engine, but 

 it is the intellectual engineer who applies it to regulate the workings of the 

 machine itself. Such, without any disparagement to the abilities of either 

 party, is the parallel between them. Those who exalt one class over the 

 other put us in mind of the fable of our early days, " there is nothing like 

 leather'^ If such books only as those I alluded to are fit to be encouraged, 

 and all learned, scientific, or abstruse publications are to be thrown aside, 

 then it appears to me that the public taste is vitiated, as it generally is. I 

 have, as I have already intimated, no reason myself to complain on this 

 point ; but I wish to see the erudite labours of others share also in some 

 part of this patronage. Cheapness is no recommendation, otherwise 

 Mr. Thompson would not have publicly complained that his admirable 

 although unattractive work. Zoological Researches [reviewed p. 256.], received 

 no encouragement. The price of this modest but highly valuable publica- 

 tion is only 3^. Qd. a number, and it is certainly replete with more original 

 information than all the books put together that have been published in 

 England for the last ten years ; and yet, out of one thousand members^ or 

 thereabouts, belonging to the Linnean and Zoological Societies, this little 

 work is suffered to languish for want of encouragement. Look, again, at 

 Lane's exquisite figures of the Parrots^ now publishing ; why has this not 

 been noticed and done ample justice to in this Magazine ? Every scientific 

 institution and public library ought to possess it, as being, next to Audu- 

 bon's, the most beautiful and masterly work, delineating birds, ever pub- 

 lished in Britain. Look, again, at Dr. Horsfield's Javanese Insects. Let 

 this be on the same list. These, with Mr. Sowerby's General Conchology, 

 will render every library perfect in the most valuable works, both in point of 

 science and execution, now printing in England, on the three most attractive 

 branches of zoology. I could continue the list, but time with me is precious. 

 — W. S. September, 1831. 



Mr. Davis's Remarks (p. 303.) on the recent Mode of publishing the Num^ 

 bers of Stephens's ^^Illustrations of British Entomology.'''' — Sir, Observing, by 

 the cover, that it is the intention of Mr. Stephens to reply in your pages to 

 my article (p. 303.) on the publication of his Illustrations of British Ento- 

 mology, I beg to state, that, as I have dealt only with facts, when Mr. 

 Stephens's reply shall appear, the case will be so fully before your readers, 

 that I shall not feel myself called upon, under any circumstances, to offer 

 further remarks on the subject. 



I state this, as some of your correspondents seem so strongly to dis- 

 approve of your pages becoming the vehicle of frequent and extended con- 

 troversv. 1 am, Sir, yours, &c. — A.H.Davis. Nelson Square, Se2)t.\Q. 

 1831. 



