HUMBOLDT'S COSMOS. 



Henry G. Bohns Rejoinder, Feb. 28, 1849. 



The publishers of Mrs. Sabine's translation (as edited by Col. 

 Sabine) having put forth an advertisement accusing my trans- 

 lator of a mis-statement, I feel it incumbent on me to disprove 

 that imputation by adducing the facts, supported by unequi- 

 vocal evidence. 



Preliminarilv it may be as well to observe, that the ori 

 gmal work was first published in German, vol. 1, in the 

 spring of 1845, vol. 2, in the autumn of 1847, and that three 

 English translations of it now exist. — The first translation 

 (anonymous) was published by Mr. Bailliere, vol. 1, in July, 

 1845, vol. 2, in December, 1847, at £1 4s.— The second (trans- 

 lated by Mrs. Sabine), was published by Messrs. Longman, 

 and Mr. Murray, vol. 1, September, 1846, vol. 2, December, 

 1847, likewise at £1 4s.— The third (translated by E. C. Otte, 

 with the assistance of scientific friends), was published by my- 

 self, both volumes simultaneously, February 1, 1849, at 7s. 



Whether the first translation was satisfactory or not, or 

 whether its priority entitled it, according to trade usages, 

 to any exclusive possession of the market, I will not here 

 inquire, it will be sufficient to observe that the publishers 

 of the second were not disturbed by the latter consideration, 

 and accordingly published a new one, which annihilated its 

 predecessor.* In the meantime my attention had been di- 

 rected to the book, and on projecting the Standard Library, 

 in the beginning of 1846, it was one of the very first set down 

 by me for that series. A vexations circumstance having de- 

 layed my translation, and finding that I could not in conse- 

 quence produce it so early as I intended, and the other trans- 

 lations being in the interim completed, I thought it as well to 

 defer mine, and out of what I intended to be courtesy, ab- 



' Mr. Murray, it should be observed, states that lie bad the book in 

 contemplation more than fifteen years ago. He may, therefore, very 

 fairly claim priority of intention. The wonder is that he did not publish 

 the work himself, instead of entering into a coalition with Messrs. 

 Longmans, who to the trade, at least, are the ostensible publishers. 



