198 HINTS RELATIVE TO 



Thus new theories, and new views, will never be kept back 

 from the light merely because they do not happen to please, 

 or are in opposition to the opinions of the Publishing Com- 

 mittee^ 



But, if the Society are bent upon making to themselves a 

 book, there is still a way of proceeding, which will at the same 

 time accomplish another object, by which science can be 

 effectually promoted. Let there be an annual prize awarded 

 for the best essay on the natural arrangement of any one group 

 of insects on sound philosophic principles ; and let this essay, 

 limited to a certain bulk, be then printed : the expense would 

 be small ; and the sale, throughout the entomological world, 

 certain. The premium, or prize, should either be a sum of 

 money, or a medal ; in either case sufficiently valuable to make 

 it worth contending for— not so large as to affect the funds of 

 the Society. A thin pamphlet would contain the Essay of the 

 year ; and thus, in process of time, as " A Collection of Prize 

 Entomological Essays," the volume would indisputably become 

 the most valuable collection of tracts on the science in our 

 language. 



b The same principle of impartial justice which has induced me to speak in 

 praise of the Zoological Society in the preceding pages, imperatively demands 

 a public record of the following anecdote, the truth of which can be sub- 

 stantiated by documents. A few months ago a well-known conchologist (not 

 a member of the Society) addressed to it, through the Secretary, a long paper on 

 the natural arrangement of the primary tribes of the Mollusca or Testaceous 

 animals, pointing out their circular affinities, and their analogous representations 

 to other large groups in different tribes of the animal kingdom. This paper was 

 sent to the present Secretary, who thought it prudent to submit it to the judgment 

 of some of the Publishing Committee, before it should come in an official form to 

 the Society. In this he was, doubtless, influenced by the considerate wish that 

 the author should have the power of withdrawing it, in case these learned gentle- 

 men were adverse to the publication of bis paper. The result proved the 

 knowledge which the Secretary had of the views and feelings of the Publishing 

 Committee. The author was politely informed that they (the committee) could 

 not sanction the publication of such a paper, wherein characters for classification 

 were employed, quite at variance with all received authorities ! The paper, of fl 

 course, was withdrawn. What would have become of science if we had always |'| 

 acted upon this narrow-minded principle? An absurd theory will die in the I 

 birth ; while, if there is any thing good in a tolerable one, there are those who can j 

 extract that good, and throw the refuse away. So much for the necessary evil of 

 Publishing Committees ! I hope this example will deter all who venture beyond 

 the description of species, from sending papers to a Publishing Society, unless the I 

 council for the current year are composed of their personal friends. For myself, ( 1 

 I never have, and never will, trouble such societies with communications that may 

 become " Rejected Addresses." 



