490 Reply of Mr, Stephens 



2. " At this period [before the appearance of No. xv.] commenced those 

 irregularities in the publication which have produced so much mystifica- 

 tion," &c. 



Now, the only irregularity that took place previously to the 

 appearance of No.xxviii., exclusively of the extra number (xv.), 

 was by No. xxii. containing one sheet in lieu of two ; arising 

 from my being unexpectedly called upon and compelled to 

 serve on the grand jury for Middlesex for nearly a fortnight ; 

 but the deficient sheet was published in the following number. 

 Here again Mr. Davis's dates and assertions are false. 



3. " A slight delay which occurred with Nos. xv. and xvi. was attempted 

 to be atoned for by another pledge (being the third alteration) to complete 

 the work in 120 numbers." 



Here also Mr. Davis, with his usual disregard to veracity, 

 makes no less than three false statements. No. i. was pub- 

 lished, as admitted by Mr. Davis, on May 1. 1827, and the 

 succeeding numbers appeared on the 1st of each successive 

 month, as stipulated. No. xiii., consequently, was published 

 on May 1. 1828 ; No. xiv. on June 1. ; No. xv. on July 1. 

 " Oh, no !" "I wish to deal only with facts," says Mr. Davis. 

 " A slight delay occurred with Nos. xv. and xvi.;" whereas 

 No. XV. was published on June 30., and No. xvi. on July 15. ; 

 which, according to my simple notions, was rather an acceler- 

 ation, and required no atonement ; the former number being 

 published one day, and the latter one fortnight, earlier than 



would have been required before three volumes of the same extent could 

 have been completed, agreeably thereto ; whereas fifty months only have 

 elapsed since the commencement of the work (eight of which, as hereafter 

 noticed, were not devoted towards its prosecution,) and, in addition, seven 

 sheets towards the next volumes have been published ; thereby manifestly 

 showing that double the original quantity of matter has been given in half 

 the time. And, with regard to the third volumes, it may be remarked, that 

 the volume of Mandibulata was actually finished twenty-nine months, and 

 that of Haustellata twenty-three months, before their original time, although 

 the former volume contains six sheets more than the covenanted quantity, 

 and the latter four sheets ; being forty-six sheets in lieu of thirty-six, or ten 

 extra-sheets (about three times the value of the six figures deficient in the 

 volumes, but which will, nevertheless, ultimately appear), which would have 

 occupied above three monthly numbers, and for which no actual charge is 

 made ; these volumes being sold at the same price as the others, although it 

 has clearly occasioned me one fourth more labour than the subscribers have 

 any right to expect. But, should it be objected that the latter are placed 

 in a worse condition than those persons who take the work in volumes, by 

 having apparently to pay for the extra-matter, be it remembered that they 

 have already received thirty figures, and seven sheets of letterpress (and 

 would have received more of the latter, had it not been for the gratuitous 

 quantity in the third volumes), towards the next volumes, in addition to 

 the advantage of procuring the early parts of the volumes, and becoming 

 acquainted with their contents long since. 



