4092 Notices of New Books. 



" Difficulties, however, of a formidable kind at once presented 

 themselves. The state of the manuscript was such, that independent 

 of the almost illegible character, which the intelligent printers of the 

 former volume could alone decypher, there were so many erasures and 

 changes of nomenclature, as to render much caution requisite in judg- 

 ing of the latest views intended to be expressed. Many of the refe- 

 rences to the plates, in consequence of the numerous alterations which 

 had taken place in the text, required to be corrected. The unfinished 

 plates, and the figures which had not been engraved, stood in need of 

 assortment, and a careful revision. Much of this indispensable labour 

 she only could perform, and here her efforts were above all praise. 



" But there were portions of the task in which some assistance was 

 needed. This Sir John Dalyell foresaw, should the work prove a 

 posthumous one, and had expressed to his relative a hope that I 

 might, perhaps, endeavour to give her*the requisite aid ; especially as 

 I had for many years previous to the publication of the ' Rare and 

 Remarkable Animals,' urged upon him the propriety of giving to the 

 world those observations, in making of which he had expended so 

 much successful labour. In proof that such efforts had repeatedly 

 been made to rescue important results from private obscurity, and 

 render them available to naturalists in general, the following note 

 which accompanied the presentation of the first volume of that work 

 may here be inserted. 



" ' My Dear Professor, 



" ' Have the goodness to accept a copy of my humble com- 

 mentary on the works of Providence. 



" ' Though endowed with my own share of perseverance and reso- 

 lution, I confess that the iniquitous obstructions I suffered in its pro- 

 gress, had nearly compelled me to abandon the prospect of completion. 

 " ' But your kind indulgence always encouraged me to advance ; 

 therefore I may say the existence of my work is mainly owing to you. 

 " ' Believe me ever yours, with infinite regard, 



" * John Graham Dalyell.' 

 " ' 14, Great King Street, August 21, 1847/ 



" In these circumstances, I willingly furnished the little aid in my 

 power towards the completion of the volume, interfering, however, in 

 the smallest possible degree with the style, the nomenclature, and the 

 materials employed. The publication, being a posthumous work, will 

 of course be regarded with all the tenderness and generosity usually 

 displayed on such occasions; while the numerous highly interesting 



