APPENDIX, [207] 



Reply to Mr, Rennies Remarks on the Svoainsonian Controversy 

 (Appendix, p. [110.]). By W. Swainson, Esq. F.R.S. L.S. &c. 



Dear Sir, .1 



I HAVE to say, — 1st, that Mr. Rennie forgets. / have not published 



any part of the letter containing the secret opinions of Mr. on the 



quinary system. This third letter is the letter prohibited. I quote only 

 tivo. Secret opinions, in matters of pure science^ are eminently ridiculous. 

 2dly, Neither MM. Desmarest, Lesson, nor myself will read, much less reply 

 to, any thing from Mr. Vigors ; and, to insure this, 3dly, my bookseller in 

 future will tear out the Appendix. 



Yours, &c. 

 Feb, 17. 1832. W, Swainson. 



Controversy regarding Swainson s " Zoological Illustrations j** "' 

 between A. R. Y. and Mr, Swainson. 



Sir, 



The packet which I received from you on the 22d of February conveyed 

 to me the following very handsome and gentlemanlike letter, from Mr. 

 Swainson, on the subject of the little controversy which has lately taken 

 place between us. As the letter in question at once does both credit to 

 Mr. Swainson, and (I think) justice to myself, and as I have his full per- 

 mission to publish the same, I cannot resist the inclination I feel to request 

 you to insert a copy of it as an appendix to an early Number of your Ma- 

 gazine, and, according to your justly established rule, to charge the expense 

 of printing it to my account. 



I have only one further observation to offer. Mr. Swainson states, that 

 from the half-crown numbers, of which I ventured to complain, less profit 

 results than from any of the others, and that the price is not a remunerat- 

 ing, but a losing one. This statement does certainly surprise me. But 

 although I am not sufficiently skilled in "the tricks of printing" to be 

 able to account for what appears to me so extraordinary a fact, I must de- 

 clare that I am the last person to doubt the veracity of a gentleman, and 

 more especially of one who so candidly admits that my reasoning on the 

 subject is not ill founded.* As the objectionable practice with which I 

 found fault is, it seems, productive neither of profit to the author nor 

 satisfaction to the purchaser, I trust it will henceforth be avoided by all 

 who may in future commence a periodical publication. 



For Mr. Swainson's kind offer to supply me with the two remaining 

 Numbers of his Illustrations I feel truly obliged, but need not trouble him, 

 as, no doubt, I shall be able to procure them, as heretofore, through the 

 bookseller. 



* I wonder whether the author, or editor, or publisher of the Botanical 

 Register, or whoever may be the person concerned, is prepared to make a 

 like candid avowal and explanation in his case. The practice of charging 

 one shilling for a titlepage and index for this work, and, what is worst of 

 all, impudently styling the same an Appendix, has still been persisted in up 

 to the first of the present month. I think Mr. Lindley, whose honourable 

 name occupies so conspicuous a place in this costly titlepage, ought to 

 come forward with an explanation, were it only to exculpate himself (as I 

 have no doubt he could do) from any participation in the blame. 



Vol. V. — No. 24. [o] 



