stained from announcing it, even after it was ready for pub- 

 lication. 



In January, 1848, Messrs. Longman, in reply to their ex- 

 press inquiry, were informed by me, in writing, that my 

 edition was in progress ; subsequently I mentioned that 

 it was nearly ready ; and in the beginning of January last, 

 I called on them to say that it would be issued at the end 

 of that month. As I am not accountable to any one for giving 

 to the public cheap editions of books open to all, I thought I 

 was performing an act of extra civility in affording them time 

 to take whatever measures they might deem necessary to 

 compete with me. It soon transpired that I was to be met 

 by an active opposition, I thereupon determined to give pub- 

 licity to certain advantages in my edition, which I might other- 

 wise have allowed to pass sub silentio. 



On consulting my translators, and examining the book my- 

 self, I was enabled to point out the following : — 



DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OP MY EDITION. 



1. The notes are conveniently placed beneath the 



text, instead of at the end, as heretofore. 



2. The notes are augmented (see the word Translator, 



Notes by, &c, in the Indexes.) 



3. The author's analytical summaries are for the 



eirst time translated (these amount in the original 

 to 24, and in my edition to 21 pages.) 



4. A short memoir is prefixed. 

 0. a portrait of the author. 



6. all the foreign measures are converted into 



corresponding english terms. 



7. The passages suppressed in mrs. sabine's edition 



are inserted. 



8. Complete indexes are subjoined. 



I had no idea that any of these advantages could be dis- 

 puted, but I find that one (No. 6) is altogether denied, and 

 another (No. 7) so ingeniously excused that it would almost 

 seem a merit to excise the thoughts of great minds, when they 

 do not fall in with the notions of their translators. I cannot, 

 however, to use the words of a reviewer, subscribe to the 

 taste which sets "literary laundresses to clearstarch 

 the productions of thinkers like Humboldt." 



