Periodical Works on Natural History. 307 
of is, being charged enormously for a plain, printed titlepage 
and index, without any portrait of the author, without any 
ornamental vignette, or expensive decorations, but merely the 
ordinary titlepage and index to the volume; for which (aif 
they must be paid for separately) the smallest denomination 
of the current coin would be a high price; and which, in 
common fairness, ought to be given to each purchaser (as 
Dr. South says), ‘* like paper and packthread, into the bar- 
oain.”” 
For the edification of all concerned in these petty practices, 
I will now take leave to relate a very homely anecdote, the 
moral lesson of which they will do well to apply to themselves. 
When I was at school, Mr. Editor, we boys used to buy eat- 
ables of an old woman whom I believe to have been a very 
fair dealer. However, schoolboy-like, our pockets, too, being 
sometimes low, we were always for having a good pennyw orth 
for our money ; and often used to jeer this “honest old crea- 
ture, very unjustly, I believe, for not giving us good measure. 
One day she happened to be weighing out some sausage-meat, 
when the usual cry was raised, more in jest than “eainest, 
“Mother Parker, that is not w eight !—put a little more into 
the scale.” “ Don’t be afraid,” she replied, * you shall have 
good weight, I warrant you; for I promise you, my lad, I will 
never go to hell for half a pound of sausages.” I ees to 
apologise for the homeliness —the coarseness, if you will —and 
vulgarity of this anecdote; yet, I must say, the strong g good 
sense and honest principle evinced by this humble but respect - 
able tradeswoman deserve to be recorded to her honour, and 
may advantageously be held up as examples for the imitation 
of some who | are her superiors in rank and education. Half 
a crown or three and sixpence per annum can hardly be a sum 
of consequence to any one who can afford to indulge in the 
luxury of a periodical work on natural history. But nobody 
likes to think himself imposed upon, even to the amount of a 
farthing. And I speak sincerely when I say, that I really do 
grieve to see the names of respectable authors and editors — 
men of taste, science, and education — naturalists — associ- 
ated with such paltry artifices as those which I have endea- 
voured to expose. For their own credit and character’s sake, 
I would entreat them to abandon such mean conduct: it is 
calculated to disgust the public, and deter many from giving 
their support to a most convenient and pleasing class of Works, 
who otherwise might be well disposed to do so.* At the 
* I have been informed, on unquestionable authority, that a certain 
nobleman of the higher grade, and of princely fortune, to whom money 
could be only a secondar y consideration, having been solicited to take in a 
