673 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. Retrospective Criticism, 



This Magazine monthly. — I hope the majority of your readers will 

 induce you to publish the Magazine monthly, as you propose to do : to me 

 it will give it an additional interest ; for, having experienced this interest now 

 for the last five months [in consequence of our having published the two 

 extra Numbers], I shall regret not receiving a Number for August. I am. 

 Sir, yours, &c. — J, D. Salmon. Bourne, July 9. 1832. 



Sir, I am much pleased to learn, from the cover of your June Number, 

 that there is a prospect of the Magazine of Natural History being pub- 

 lished monthly, instead of, as it now is, every alternate month. The change 

 would be much for the better; for by this plan a current of natural history 

 news would be, as it were, uninterruptedly flowing forth to quench the 

 thirst of your readers. The wide circulation of the Magazine begets 

 readers, and readers beget contributors ; so that a press of matter, no 

 doubt, is accumulating upon you from sources out of number, and will 

 accumulate more and more every day — 



" As if increase of appetite had grown 

 By what it fed on." 



I may add, too, that the patience of your contributors would not be put to 

 so severe a test by those long delays which, under the present plan, some- 

 times unavoidably take place, before room can be found to insert their 

 various articles. As the proposed alteration (it is stated) will depend 

 on circumstances, and particularly on the wishes of your readers (which 

 you request may be made known to you), I lose no time in giving ray vote, 

 as an individual subscriber, decidedly in favour of the monthly publication 

 of the work. — fr. J'. -B?re. Allesley Rectory, June 2Q. \S32. 



Several other correspondents have also obliged us with their opinions 

 on the proposed change ; and of these some approve it : others do not, 

 or propose doubling the number of sheets and price, and preserving the 

 two-monthly publication, &c. We shall be happy for a still wider ex- 

 pression of opinion. — .7. D. 



Mr. Dovaston's " Chit-chat''^ has my entire approbation ; and I anticipate 

 much pleasure and information from a continuation of the series he has 

 commenced. — J. D. Salmon. Bourne, Lincolnshire.^ July 9. J 832. 



Extracts from a private Letter from Mr. Waterton. — " Mr. Do- 



vaston's mentioning me [p. 497.] far too meritoriously, puts it out of my 

 power to say much of his " Chit-chat," otherwise I would not have hesi- 

 tated to tell you that I consider it most excellent and instructive, and of 



real worth to your Magazine." — Charles Waterton. Walton Hall, 



July 24. 1832. 



We trust to Mr. Waterton's friendship and liberality to pardon this 

 freedom ; and have to inform Mr. Dovaston, that other correspondents 

 have expressed their approbation of " Chit-chat, No. 1.," and, like our- 

 selves, are anxious for the favour of " Chit-chat, No. 2." — J. D. 



Mr. Dovaston's Desaiptive Sketches of the British Singing Birds. 

 (p. 425—428.) — " I had lately an inkling to have offered you some remarks 

 on many of our warblers' melodies, and the language of birds, both their 

 poetry and prose; but it has been so ably," &c. — Mr. Dovaston. (p. 427.) 



Vol. V, — No. 29. xx 



