ADDRESS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 
Several Subscribers have complained of the intervals between the publication of the Numbers of “The Fossil 
Conchology of Great Britain and Ireland.” While the Author regrets the delay which has unavoidably taken 
place, he considers it necessary to direct the attention of Subscribers to the following particulars, which doubtless 
have never suggested themselves to the complainants. 
It will be seen from the Prospectus on the back of the covers, that an average of 40 figures is promised to each 
number, or 10 to each plate. Now, on the 78 plates already published, 1,960 figures have been given, being 
an average of upwards of 25 to each plate; and, although Subscribers have apparently received only 20 numbers, 
they have got the quantity of Fossils, which, agreeably to the terms of the Prospectus, ought to have been spread 
over the plates of at least 36 numbers, and for which no additional charge has been made. It will also be apparent 
to any judge of art, that the style of the engravings of almost every plate, is superior to those of No. 1, which was 
the specimen for the future numbers, and no improvement promised, so that Subscribers have little cause to complain. 
Soon after the commencement of the work, on examining some extensive collections, the Author perceived that 
many more plates, than the number contemplated, would be required to contain the vast accumulation of species 
which had been recently discovered. He was, however, unwilling, on this pretext, to extend the work beyond the 
original proposal of One Hundred Plates. To attain this object, his only alternative was to put many more figures 
on the plates, and as far as can be seen, at present, the work will not extend beyond one hundred plates. 
As regards the time which has elapsed since this work commenced, it will be fouud that the Mineral Conchology 
of Mr. Sowerby, (although engraved in a slight style of art, when compared with the present,) was begun in 1812, 
and finished in 1829, being a period of seventeen years. This work, however, will be completed in less than a third 
of that time, and will contain nearly Six Hundred species, not figured by Sowerby, whose work sells for <£21 4s., 
and this will cost only about £3 15s., or at the rate of a ninth part of the price of Sowerby’s. 
It is expected that the Fossil Conchology will be completed in about three months; and the Author assures the 
Subscribers that every day’s delay has been for their advantage, and greatly to the disadvantage of the Proprietors. 
When the Author undertook the publication of the Fossil Conchology, it was with a view of supplying a deside¬ 
ratum, of which Geologists justly complained, namely, a work arranged in systematic order, embracing all the species 
known up to that time, aud which might be discovered during the progress of the publication. Mr. Sowerby’s work 
had then been discontinued for upwards of nine years, and there was no prospect of its being resumed. 
“ The Conchology of Great Britain and Ireland.” —The first edition of this work was published by 
different proprietors, containing 53 plates, with synonyms only, at £6 IBs. 6d. The second edition contains 63 plates, 
with many additional figures inserted into the old plates, and with full letter-press descriptions, at less than a third of 
the original price, although other works, containing not even a half of the known species, are published at much 
higher prices than even the original cost—See extracts from Reviews on the back of the covers. 
It will be seen that the new engravings of this, as well as of its sister work, are superior in style to the old 
ones. This work will also be completed in about three months. 
At the commencement of both works, with the view of making the letter-press keep pace with the plates, they 
were printed in double columns, on as small a type as was consistent with a royal quarto page. Yet, from the minute 
descriptions of the species, and the numerous additional figures on the plates, which the Author considered of para¬ 
mount importance, the descriptions have, in consequence, fallen behind the published plates. At the request of many 
Subscribers, with the view of obviating this, an additional quantity of letter-press has been substituted for the plates, 
in the present numbers of both works. 
N.B —Both the above works will be considerably advanced in price after their completion. 
Lately published, royal 18mo., price 5s., THE ELEMENTS OF FOSSIL CONCHOLOGY, according to the 
arrangement of Lamarck, with the newly-established Genera of other Authors, by Captain THOMAS BROWN, 
M.R.P.S., M.W.S., &c. &c. Illustrated by engravings on steel of all the Genera. 
The Generic characters are very fully explained in this work. 
