THE SUBSTITUTE. 
95 
live, and conntains many in- 
teresting illustrations of the pre- 
siding influence and care of God 
over all his works. The compre- 
hensive intelligence with which 
the subject is treated, the accuracy 
of the details, and the learned re- 
search in which the authors some- 
times indulge themselves, w'ill 
give to this w’orh a long and ho- 
nourable existence in the literature 
of science, but, like all other 
writings of the same class, its days 
are numbered ; and the time will 
come when it will cease to be re- 
garded as a popular exposition, 
and the relic of its honour will be 
frequent quotation by the anti- 
quaries of science. 
“ This is, we admit, a gloomy 
view of the authorship of scienti- 
fic men, and may act as a dis- 
couragement to those who write 
for posthumous fame. But it is 
certainly true that a man of 
science cannot reasonably anti- 
cipate lasting reputation for a 
summary of the scientific know- 
ledge of his age, however carefully 
and ingeniously executed. The 
renown obtained by the laborious 
composition of scientific works is, 
of all others, the most evanescent. 
“ The cause of tills' rapid decay 
in the popularity of scientific books 
is evident. They are the records 
of facts, which, by the increase of 
knowledge, are presented in un- 
anticipated aspects and relations. 
The discovery of new truths, the 
correction of old errors, and the 
more perfect application of esta- 
blished principles, make that de- 
fective to-day which was yesterday 
the representation of existing 
knowledge. No grace of style, no 
profundity of thought, can com- 
pensate in an elementary treatise 
for the omission of recent dis- 
coveries, or for a narrow and im- 
perfect view of the Science, much 
less for an erroneous representation 
of the philosophy of the subject. 
But, although we cannot peruse 
the masterly productions of our 
age without a sigh, conscious of 
their almost ephemeral reputation, 
we are, like their authors, cheered 
by the recollection that the prin- 
cipal object of their publication is 
always attained, and that when 
they cease to be longer useful to 
mankind, it is from the growth of 
the knowledge which they have im- 
parted, and the higher develop- 
ment of the human intellect. Few 
books on a neglected subject have 
been more successful than the 
‘ Introduction to Entomology,’ and 
none have better deserved the re- 
putation obtained. Nor is its mis- 
sion yet complete. For many 
years to come it will be read with 
interest and quoted as an authority; 
and when its old age is at hand, 
and it gives place to another 
favourite, the names of its authors 
will be remembered with honour, 
and their labours be recited as a 
motive for the pursuit of the 
Science they greatly advanced.” — 
Eclectic Review. 
On the 20th inst., 
rT’'HE ENTOMOLOGIST’S 
X ANNUAL FOR 1857, 
The LinRARY Edition; cloth, 
gilt, with Coloured Plate. Price 6s. 
The Original Edition ; in 
yellow boards, with Coloured 
Plate. Price 2s. 6d. 
The People’s Shilling Edi- 
tion; in still’ paper wrapper, with 
Plain Plate. Price Is. 
London; John Van Voorst, I, 
Paternoster Kow. 
