OCT 24 1ygt 
NATURAL SCIENCE 
A Monthly Review of Scientific Progress 
No. 80—Vo.. XIII—OCTOBER 1898 
NOTES AND COMMENTS 
WANTED, AN EDITOR! 
Ir is with the deepest regret that we find ourselves compelled to 
announce a step which may, we fear, result in the cessation of this 
Review at the close of the present year. For a time that, as the 
history of journals goes, is short, but that, when taken from the life 
of individuals in its most active period, appears long indeed, we have 
endeavoured to maintain the fortunes of Natural Science. The 
labour that this has entailed has undoubtedly been one of love; 
but, as years advance, responsibilities increase, and the time at the 
disposal of those who conduct this Review becomes less. We have 
therefore decided to discontinue the editing of Natural Science after 
the next December number. 
It may be imagined that we do not take this step without 
anxious deliberation. We believe ourselves, and we are told by 
others, that Natwral Science has filled a place in scientific journalism 
occupied by no other periodical, at least in this country. We have 
endeavoured to be independent, an aim that it is often difficult to 
accomplish. We have sought to praise the good because it was 
good, and to censure the bad because it was bad. And if censure 
has sometimes seemed to overbalance praise, let the truism be 
remembered that there is far more bad than good in the world. 
We have endeavoured to be impartial and to bow to no authority 
save justice and reason; but we have also tried to recognise that 
our ideas of justice and reason might not always be those of other 
people. Hence we have allowed a free field to the champions of 
views unorthodox as well as orthodox. The reproach of omniscience 
and infallibility has, it is true, been laid to our charge. But these 
sins of a private individual are the virtues of an editor. They may 
ibe accounted for by the fact that we have had freely placed at our 
disposal the pens of many, if not most, of the eminent biologists 
and geologists of the day, without distinction of nationality. To all 
our contributors, those whose names have been published, and those 
who have helped in the less grateful task of furnishing unsigned 
comments, we tender our heartfelt thanks. 
We have said this much in praise of Natural Science, because 
we believe that a journal of this nature should not be allowed to 
drop altogether. We are prepared to hand it over, with all stock, 
appurtenances, and goodwill, to any scientific man who is prepared 
Q 
