326 Naidical Almanac. — Ohituari). 



from that of the preceding volumes,^and without anj' assurance or prospect 

 of improvement or enlargement for tiie future ones. We know not whe- 

 ther His Majesty's Ministers are aslec]) on this subject ; but we trust that 

 the House of Commons is not : and that a question of so much public im- 

 portance will not be suffered to pass over another session without some 

 ptMc inquiry. The mode of conducting this work is a piibltc concern : 

 the money of the public is expended in bringing it to as great a degree of 

 perfection as possible ; and the jniilic ought to enjoy any and every emolu- 

 ment which is derived from the sale of it. At all events, the proper officer* 

 ought to see that the whole of the profits, after making a liberal allowance 

 to the bookseller, is approjiriated to the improvement and perfection of the 

 work. Now, we have some little experience in printing and publishing j and 

 we cannot help thinking that a great deal more might be given for the 

 same money. The case is very different from that of an individual author, 

 who may expect, and ought, to be repaid for his time and labour. Here, 

 the Government is the publisher, who neither desires nor expects to de- 

 rive any emolunient from it : no expense is incurred for advertisements : 

 the sale of many thousand copies of the work is well ascei'tained and en- 

 sured : and, after making every allowance for the expense o{ gelling it up, 

 nuist secure a handsome profit to the publisher. For, even the usual dis- 

 count to booksellers is not allowed on tliis work : Sixpence only on each 

 copy is all that is deducted for rcadi/ monei/. So that the publisher secui'es 

 to himself Fuar Skillings and Si.iyencc for every copy that is solil. But 

 why should not a portion of this profit go towards the improvement and 

 perfection of the work ? Why should this country suffer itself to be 

 eclipsed by the neighbouring nations, in this important part of its scientific 

 fame, for the sake of enriching one individual ? These are questions which 

 we hope will attract attention in the proper quarter, and tend to remove 

 the complaints which are now become jjretty genend on this subject. We 

 shall probably advert to the contents of the work, in a subsequent number. 



OBITUARY. 



Lately died, on his way to Geneva, Alex. Marcet, M.D. F.R.S. Hono- 

 rary Professor of Chemistry at Geneva. 



On the 23th October, in the 66th year of his age, after a lingering illness 

 of nearly four months, died Mr. James Sowerey, F.L.S. M.G.S. &c., an 

 artist of considerable talent, well known as the designer and engraver of the 

 Plates, and the pid^lisher, of the complete Flora of Great Britain, edited, 

 under the title of " English Botany," by Sir J. E. Smith, tiie learned Pre- 

 sident of the Linnscan Society. He was a most intelligent ;>nd laborious 

 cultivator of Natural History, as the numerous works in which his pen and 

 pencil have been engaged amply demonstrate ; and his memory will long be 

 esteemed by those friends who had an opportunity of estimating his modesty, 

 integrity, friendly disposition, and devotion to his favourite pursuits. 



On the 13th died at Venice, after a short but severe illness, the Marquis 

 Gang V A. He was universally celebrated as a sculptor of the first eminence, 

 and revered for his worth as a man. 



LIST OF PATENTS FOR NEW INVENTIONS. 



To John Collier, of Compton-street, Brunswick-sqnarc, Middlesex, en- 

 gineer, for certain improvements upon machines for shearing cloth. — Dated 

 »7th September 1S22. — 2 months allowed to enrol specification. 



To William Goodman, of Coventry, Warwickshire, hatter, for certain im- 

 provements in looms. — 27th Sept. — 6 months. 



To 



