300 Advantages and Disadvantages of 



plan I speak of. Having shown the bright side of the case; 

 we must now do justice, and, turning the picture, look to the 

 disadvantages. But, first, I must mention a circumstance 

 attendant on some, though not on all, periodical works, of 

 which I stand in doubt, whether it ought more properly to be 

 referred to the side of advantages or the contrary, as it will 

 be found to belong either to the one or the other, exactly as 

 the case may be. I mean, that some of our periodicals 

 actually remind one of a tape worm, — they seem to be ab- 

 solutely interminable ! For example, no conceivable period, 

 short of domesday, can be calculated upon for the probable 

 termination of such works as the Botanical Magazine and Bo- 

 tanical Register, comprehending, as they do, within their capa- 

 cious range, plants from every region of the known world. 

 So long, indeed, as these works keep up their character, and 

 remain under the auspices of men of science and ability, like 

 their present conductors, we have no reason to complain ; but 

 should they, at any time, from whatever cause, fall off and 

 degenerate, verifying the ancient dogma, " Omnia in pejus," 

 the sooner they are brought to a conclusion the better. And, 

 no doubt, there is a pleasm'e in completing any thing ; in being 

 able to say, " Now this is finished; " — a pleasure which, of 

 course, is not to be attained in the case of a work which is 

 carried on from generation to generation, and extended ad 

 infinitum. 



The almost total absence, too, of every thing like systematic 

 arrangement which unavoidably takes place in most periodical 

 works, is another inherent quality of a rather (though far 

 less) ambiguous character, possessing, along with its manifold 

 and great disadvantages, something (and but little) to recom- 

 mend it. By some people, the promiscuous introduction of 

 plants or animals side by side, having no manner of con- 

 nection with, or affinity to, each other, may be thought to 

 present an agreeable contrast and pleasing variety, like the 

 miscellaneous ingredients of a mere ornamental parterre ; 

 while others (and myself among the number) cannot but re- 

 gret the want of that lucidus ordo which the natural, or even 

 the Linnean, arrangement of the subjects would afford. Aris- 

 totle's maxim, " YlupuKKriXa fjioiXXov yvMpif/.u,^^ is one of general 

 application ; and in nothing does it hold good more than in 

 natural history, the species of a genus being best distin- 

 guished — their differences and resemblances most apparent 

 7— when placed all together in juxtaposition. The book itself, 

 likewise, especially if it be voluminous, is far more convenient 

 for reference when arranged on some regular plan, whether it 

 be a systematic or mere alphabetical arrangement of the 



