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[Although extremely reluctant to comment on papers obligingly 

 supplied at my own solicitation to this Journal, I think it best to state 

 explicitly that I do not fully participate in the preceding observations 

 on the subject of eating and drinking: and therefore 1 could wish my 

 readers not to regard those observations as my own. Let it not be 

 understood that I am at all cynical on the subject of good living, 

 but I have always held that these matters are not worthy of record, 

 and it is the record of the feeding that calls forth my correspondent's re- 

 marks: although I might perhaps enjoy the revelry at the meetings of 

 the British Association, I do not enjoy the perusal of the reports thereof. 

 The same remark applies to our Natural-History Clubs: it is needful for 

 them to feed ; it is perhaps excusable that little harmless follies are com- 

 mitted at or after feeding-time, but I hold it is very bad taste in all 

 instances to print and circulate the particulars. The veil of oblivion 

 should be dropped over the scenes as soon as they have passed. That 

 the worthy Johnson should record his having swilled ale with the 

 learned prefect of Queenborough is per se to be regretted, but let us 

 not forget that the record is accompanied by a touch of exquisite hu- 

 mour, so exquisite, indeed, that we forget the ale altogether, or con- 

 sider it as a mere accompaniment of the tale : in this respect Dr. 

 Johnson differs diametrically from our modern historians of the vic- 

 tualling proceedings, who record an intense anxiety about the meats 

 and the drinks, wholly unredeemed by a word or thought that could 

 move the risible muscles to a smile, or give birth to an idea either be- 

 neficial to the reader or the science under whose name the Club may 

 happen to be congregated : in London we have Linnean Clubs, En- 

 tomological Clubs, Botanical Clubs, Red Lion Clubs, &c, and right 

 merry meetings I believe they are, but we do not report their eatings 

 and drinkings, unless some wag lets out these doings from a pro- 

 pensity for mischievous fun. I would contend that all details which 

 tend to exhibit a mind as taking an absorbing interest in the anticipa- 

 tion or consumption of food and drink, necessarily detract from the 

 respect and admiration with which we were wont to regard that mind. 

 It is a good old maxim, " Eat, drink, and be thankful ;" and I presume 

 the thankfulness is, in the present day, supposed to find expression 

 in the printing and hotpressing of the particulars: our scientific bona 

 viva ns must pardon me if I think otherwise. — Edward Newman]. 



Vol. iif. 



