APPENDIX. 5 



manhood. I became acquainted with the later vohimes of 

 the first series whilst studying in the metropolis, with a 

 view of legally qualifying myself for the practice of an ac- 

 tive profession; and though their contents could not fail to 

 interest me, I sometimes thought that a firmer tone might 

 be given to the work, by a more careful selection of 

 materials, and, as a general rule, the omission of un- 

 authenticated contributions. Hearing accidentally in the lat- 

 ter part of the year 1836, that a gentleman who assisted Mr. 

 Loudon in the general editorship of the magazine, was about 

 to leave the neighbourhood of London, I obtained a letter of 

 introduction, and voluntarily offered my services, which were 

 accepted, and my proposal also agreed to, that a second se- 

 ries should be issued, to commence in January, 1837, Mr. 

 Loudon continuing proprietor, and, of course, taking all the 

 pecuniary responsibility incurred by the publication.^ Popu- 

 lar and elementary Natural History was then being diffused 

 through the medium of light publications, in a very cheap 

 form ; and I was convinced, both as a matter of policy and 

 inclination, that my course was, if possible, to make the se- 

 cond series embrace a larger share of the philosophy of the 

 science, and a greater amount of those descriptive details 

 which should enhance its absolute value to practical natural- 

 ists. The prospect of success, however, was anything but 

 flattering. Dr. Johnstone, who had long been one of Mr. 

 Loudon's most valuable contributors, had just united with 

 Sir Wm. Jardine to conduct a newly-established journal, — 

 the ' Magazine of Zoology and Botany,' can-ying with him 

 several more correspondents disposed to give the preference 

 to that one of the two Magazines, which promised to take 

 the higher stand as a scientific periodical. And about the 

 same time another section of Mr. Loudon's supporters, com- 

 prising some of the most frequent contributors to the Maga- 

 zine, had apparently taken under their patronage a rival peri- 

 odical, — *The Naturalist.' A few of the original correspondents 

 were still remaining, but how they might feel towards a strange 

 editor, was, of course, altogether problematical. Under these 

 disadvantages, and without the possibility of forcing a supply 

 of communications, by proposals of pecuniary remuneration ; 

 with no other weight attached to my name than its influence 

 among a circle of friends, taking a warm interest in the culti- 

 vation of similar pursuits, I entered on my new avocation. 



» At tlie close of the year 1838, the proprietorship of the Magazine was 

 transferred into my own hand?:, and the pecuniary responsibility has from 

 that period entirely rested with myself. 



