APPENDIX. SI 



of real mischief, and so far, the fabrication was judiciously 

 planned. At the very time, however, that Mr. Wood was 

 writing to the London publishers, and informing them that 

 all the naturalists of eminence considered the Magazine as 

 worthless, he had the conscience to send to me the following 

 note : — 



No. 3. 



Campsall Hall, near Doncaster, 



April 4th, 1837. 

 Mr. Neville Wood presents liis compliments to Mr. Charlesworth, and 

 would feel obliged by a notice of the ' Naturalist' in the ' Magazine of 

 Natural History.' Mr. Wood's connection with the work commences with 

 the enclosed number. 



However well Mr. Wood's scheme might be devised, it was 

 altogether a failure in relation to the contemplated object, for 

 the ' Naturalist ' continued to be printed in the country, and 

 every succeeding month brought with it the names of new 

 supporters to the Magazine which it was to have supplant- 

 ed. The necessity for some yet more energetic measure was 

 therefore apparent; and a plot was accordingly arranged, 

 which, as a master-stroke of policy, threw the first altogether 

 into the shade. Its nature was as follows. — To fabricate 

 some statement which should be in the highest degree inju- 

 rious to the personal character of the new editor of the Ma- 

 gazine of Natural History ; then to write a long notice of 

 the second series, speaking most favorably of its scientific 

 merits, but at the close of the article cleverly introducing 

 these fabricated particulars. To get the tvhole inserted in 

 the literary department of some provincial newspaper, and 

 to transmit by post, copies of this newspaper to the parties 

 contributing to the new series of Mr. Loudon^ s journal. 



The conception of this plot was in every way admirable. 

 It was a hundred chances to one that the editor of the pa- 

 per would conceive it necessary to peruse a lengthy scientific 

 notice, before the article went to press, and if any legal con- 

 sequences ensued, the author of the fabrications had nothing 

 to fear, — the legal responsibility falling on the publishers. 

 Fifteen or twenty copies of the newspaper might be had for 

 a few shillings ; — they would go postage-free ; — and if only 

 half a dozen of them took effect, in occasioning that number 

 of contributors to withdraw their support, it might at that pe- 

 riod have been fatal to the existence of the Magazine. 



The project was boldly cut out, but most miserably carried 

 into execution. For no sooner did the article appear in the 

 ' Sheffield Iris,' the newspaper selected for its introduction, 



