APPENDIX. 7 



of their respective originators. The former, I have every rea- 

 son to think, was really established solely with a view to the 

 interests of science, and equally so that the latter was set on 

 foot under an impression that the ^ Magazine of Natural His- 

 tory ' was a source of pecuniary emolument to Mr. Loudon, 

 and that it might be supplanted by a vigorous attempt to 

 win over its supporters to another journal. Mr. Mudie's 

 highly entertaining article on the king-fisher, and other 

 communications equally original, were, under these circum- 

 stances, much too good to be lost sight of; but in saying 

 what 1 did, I felt that if my criticisms were unjust, I was 

 the only party who would be laughed at: — if candid, I 

 was doing the ' Naturalist' a service rather than an injury. 



The step taken by Mr. Loudon of commencing a new series 

 of his journal, instead of respectfully withdrawing it out 

 of deference to the new comers, had, no doubt, the effect of 

 greatly disconcerting the projectors of the last-named perio- 

 dical; and in this emergency one of the parties prominently 

 concerned — Mr. Neville Wood — originated the following 

 scheme, — to gull, if possible, sofne London published', upon the 

 sti'ength of a fabricated statement, which should be drawn 

 up and furnished by Mr. Wood, into the belief that the 

 ' Magazine of Natural History" might so easily be driven 

 out of the field, as to ensure a highly-profitable speculation 

 to any one who would attempt to effect this object by means 

 of the ' Naturalist.' Mr. Wood, having been one of Mr. Lou- 

 don's most frequent correspondents, and having also written 

 an ornithological work for one of the most respectable pub- 

 lishers in London (Mr. Parker), might naturally be supposed 

 to know something of the real facts, and the gratuitous nature 

 of the statement he was about to concoct, would therefore be 

 less likely to excite suspicion. Various London publishers 

 were accordingly written to, and the substance of Mr. Wood's 

 applications may be gathered from the following specimen, 

 copied verbatim, with the omission merely of the business- 

 details relating to the circulation and expenses of the work. 



No. 1. 

 Campsall Hall, near Doncaster, 



March 27, 1837. 

 Sir, 



The proprietorship of ' the Naturalist ' has lately become 

 vacant ; and as it would be advantageous to have the work well supported 

 in London, and knowing your liberal spirit in such matters, I think it right 

 to make you the first offer. * * * * If it were printed in London the 

 sale would rapidly increase, so as to render it profitable. Loudon's Maga- 

 zine now gives universal dissatisfaction ; and it is the opinion of all our best 

 naturalists^ that a spirited monthly Magazine, published and printed in Lon- 



