308 Lummousness of the Sea, 



same time I beg to be understood that I do not wish to drive 

 a hard bargain, nor to have an author publish his work at a 

 loss. No ; " the labourer is worthy of his hire." Let him, 

 by all means, sit down and calculate beforehand what will be 

 a remunerating return for his labour ; at what rate he can 

 afford to sell his numbers ; let him, if he pleases, be quite sure 

 to charge enough^ provided only he does it fairly, openly, and 

 avowedly from the first. Having settled these points with 

 himself, and stated them to the public, together with other 

 particulars, and obtained purchasers upon these express con- 

 ditions, let him strictly and conscientiously fulfil his engage- 

 ments. Let there be no attempt to eke out some extra-profit 

 by a reduction in the number of the plates ; let there be no 

 afterclaps for such useful but unpretending articles as a title- 

 page and index ; no miscalling of them by the more dignified 

 and imposing appellation of an " appendix." Let no respect- 

 able author or editor disgrace himself by condescending to be 

 guilty of such mean artifices : but having, as it w.ere, " sworn 

 unto his neighbour," let him see that he keep his promise, 

 " and disappoint him not, even though it were to his own 

 hindrance." I am, Sir, &c. 



A Purchaser of Periodicals. 



Art. II. On the Luminousness of the Sea, Read before the Plinian 

 Society. By W, Baird, Esq., Member of that Society. 



The remarkable and beautiful appearance, so frequently 

 seen in the waters of the ocean, and generally known by the 

 name of the " luminousness of the sea," is a phenomenon so 

 interesting and striking, that it could not fail to attract the 

 attention, not only of every man of science who has ever been 

 placed in a situation to see it, but it must have even struck 

 the eye of the most casual observer. We accordingly find 

 that this is the case, and that it has been observed and de- 

 scribed by different authors, in various parts of the world. It 



rather expensive periodical work, of which he approvedy refused to do so, 

 observing, at the same time, that he meant to purchase the work when it 

 was completed. No reason, that I am aware of, was assigned by this noble- 

 man why he would not take in the work by numbers, as it was published ; 

 but, very possibly, he might have had his suspicions, owing to the frequent 

 occurrence of such cases, that it might be discontinued, or fall off in merit, 

 &c. &c. And I can assert, of my own knowledge, that there are many per- 

 sons who have a rooted objection to taking in works by numbers, grounded 

 on the apprehension of being, in some way or other, unhandsomely treated 

 by the respective editors. 



