M'' Murtrie' s Translation of the Regne Animal. 455 



quent volumes. If the publishers are men of sense, they will be 

 obliged to me for enabling them to render a future edition of 

 their work more deserving the patronage of the public. It has 

 had its share of puffing in the newspapers, and it is now the 

 turn of purchasers of the work, of which I am one, to speak of 

 it as they have found it. I have taken the trouble to do so, out 

 of pure regard for the reputation of the country ; nor should I 

 have drawn up these observations, if I had not believed, from 

 the independent and correct course you have hitherto pursued 

 in your Journal, that I might reasonably expect them to be in- 

 serted in it. I consider your Journal as a scientific periodical, 

 not infected by the spirit of puffing and quackery, and indepen- 

 dently and intelligently standing up for the true interests of 

 science, and the scientific reputation of the country. I regret 

 that I am not able to give this honest praise to Mr. Silliman's 

 American Journal of Science and Arts, which certainly, upon 

 this occasion, has not deserved it ; having voluntarily lowered 

 itself to the level of common puffers, by announcing Dr. M'Mur- 

 trie's translation in the most eulogistic terms, " as very faithful 

 and able." I perceive that the publishers of Dr. M'Murtrie's 

 work, have appended to their advertisements this recommenda- 

 tory certificate of Professor Silliman. The principal effect of 

 this wretched puff, will be to strengthen the increasing want of 

 confidence in its author. In one sense, it may serve the pur- 

 poses of the publisher ; for the public, puzzled by such different 

 accounts of the work, may purchase, and in order to judge for 

 itself, may read the work. I wish it may occur also to Professor 

 Silhman, to look into the work ; as I cannot but infer, he has 

 never read a line in it. I give you his passage. 



" Dr. M'Murtrie is entitled to the thanks of the cultivators of natural his- 

 tory, for his very faithful and able translation of this most perfect system of 

 zoology. The publication of the present work, we are confident, will form 

 an era in this country." — Silliman's Journal, Vol. XXI, p. 368. 



Taking it for granted that you will examine into the truth of 

 my averments, I place it with cheerful confidence in your hands, 

 reserving my remarks upon the subsequent volumes, which are 

 by no means without merit, for a future occasion. 



A Subscriber. 



We have had the preceding communication sometime in our 

 possession, and publish it with reluctance, although we have 



