42 



KIDD'S LONDON JOURNAL. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



An iNauiREE.— Your views are correct. We shall, at 

 every fitting season, endeavor to " render unto 

 Csesar" his due. All animals are equally endowed 

 with a useful gift— differing only in degree. In each 

 individual there is much to admire. 



H. W. B,— Our space is so circumscribed, that "Fugitive 

 Poetry" can only be admissible under very peculiar 

 circumstances. We are already overwhelmed with 

 similar "kind offerings." This "reply" will suffice 

 for all the writers. Their favors have merit, and 

 would be readily available in a Monthly Magazine. 



New Subscribers, and Casual Readers, are referred to 

 the Leading Article in our First Number for the 

 detailed objects of the London Journal : to these 

 we shall rigidly adhere. 



Private Letters. — Of these we daily receive such 

 immense quantities, that we must really beg the 

 writers to excuse our not replying to them. Our time 

 is more profitably occupied. All vacancies, as they are 

 called, are filled up. Let this general answer suffice. 



Correspondents sending in any "facts" connected with 

 Science or Natural History, are requested in every 

 case to append their names and places of abode. In no 

 instance, however, will their names be published with- 

 out their express sanction. 



Notice to Subscribers and Others. — It having been 

 deemed expedient, to meet the views of the Trade, that 

 this Journal should always be published by anticipa- 

 tion, Contributors and others will be so kind as to 

 bear in mind that they must give us an extra " week's 

 grace," and wait patiently till their favors appear. 



All persons who may send in MSS., but which may not 

 be " accepted," are requested to preserve copies of 

 them, as the Editor cannot hold himself responsible 

 for their return. 



To obtain this Paper without any difficulty, our readers 

 need only order it to be sent to them by any of their 

 local Booksellers or Newsvendors. It is published 

 simultaneously with all the other weekly periodicals. 



KXDB'S LONDON JOXJKNAL. 

 Saturday, January 17, 1852. 



An Editor's Letter-box! Did any lay- 

 man ever stand by, whilst the Editor of a 

 popular journal, after taking from his pri- 

 vate pocket the " open-sesame" to his sanc- 

 tum, gazed with dismay upon the scene before 

 him ? If not, we fear any description, how- 

 ever graphic, will fail to give more than a 

 very faint idea of an Editor aDd his letter- 

 box. 



Twice a day, sometimes oftener, is the 

 task ours, to call at our publisher's and 

 there make an examination of what has 

 been dropped into the " lion's-mouth." Al- 

 ready the influx of " communications," on 

 tinted and satin papers, is alarming; nor 

 is the task of perusing them one whit less 

 alarming. We have daily fine specimens, 

 and very many of them, in round-hand, run- 

 ning-hand, and German text ; and some 

 recherche specimens of that character of 

 writing known as "gentlemanly." This 

 last occupies us as much time in getting 

 through as all the other united hands put 

 together. If our " well-wishers" would be 

 so good as to write distinctly, and on one 

 side of their paper only, how greatly would 

 their favors be enhanced ! 



It is not for us to abuse the confidence 

 of our correspondents, and therefore we 



never let any of their " offerings" go beyond 

 the precincts of our private room ; but 

 really, some of the letters we receive are 

 of so marvellous, so curious a nature, that 

 it seems a pity the Eccentric Magazine 

 should have been discontinued. 



We imagine all new Periodicals must be 

 liable to this visitation ; indeed, we remem- 

 ber having passed through a similar ordeal 

 on some three or four previous occasions. 

 We venture a guess, and a shrewd one, that 

 these our present would-be patrons, who 

 thus haunt usj are but " old friends with a 

 new face." 



We have no wish to damp the ardor of 

 any aspirants after fame, but we must not 

 allow ourselves to be made sponsors for 

 the offspring of a heated brain, or to be 

 answerable for the mad follies of those who 

 will rush wildly into print. In pity to many 

 of these scribblers, we have made our 

 Christmas fire burn brightly at their ex- 

 pense. Known to the flames alone — and to 

 the unfortunate Editor of this paper, are the 

 contents of a!l these heavy billets. 



We trust that every person who has 

 perused our first three Numbers, will now 

 be able to see what will and what will not suit 

 us. Intending contributors, if they have 

 any judgment, will act wisely in economis- 

 ing their own time as well as ours, and 

 avoid sending us in future such articles as 

 can be of no use beyond kindling a fire. 



By the way, we have as yet only hinted 

 at our London Letter-Box. W t hat of our 

 own private postman ? We see him now, 

 with his smiling countenance — making the 

 best of his way to our country -villa, with 

 another large bundle of letters, which it will 

 take us nearly a week to peruse ! W T e must 

 therefore quit this important subject, on 

 which we intended to be eloquent, and at 

 once resume our public task. 



ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. 



Pigeons.— 1 am about keeping pigeons ; but 

 profess ignorance about their habits. Are they af- 

 fectionate to their owners, and also to them- 

 selves ? And are they (as you are so great an 

 observer of Nature) pleasant companions for 

 those who love a country life, and are much at 

 home? May I ask one or two lines, byway of 

 reply to this ? — Amelia L. 



[The habits of pigeons are delightfully agree- 

 able. They are so affectionate, if cultivated, 

 that they will come on your head, shoulder, or 

 lap, and eat from your mouth. They are, more- 

 over, more " moral" than most birds. When 

 they " pair," it is not with a view t o sepa a in 

 the autumn, but their union is " for \ life" — 

 with some few exceptions, as with ourselves. 

 Both parents assist in making the nest, and re- 

 gularly " relieve guard" whilst the trying pro.. 



