182J.J 
345 
VARIETIES, LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL, 
Including Notices of Works in Hand, Domestic and Foreion . 
Pip HE author of the Scottish novel*, 
determined to make hay while 
the sun shines,” announces another 
work under the title of the Pirate. 
This gentleman must he regarded as 
the most fortunate writer of this or 
any age. We congratulate him on his 
success, and heartily wish that other 
genius in higher walks of literature 
met with corresponding rewards. The 
profits, however, of these novels, at the 
price which the author puts upon Ills 
copies, are worthy of being recorded in 
the annals of literature. His first edi¬ 
tions are 20,000 copies (we have heard 
even of 30,000) and to this is usually 
added another of 10,000. The follow¬ 
ing then is something like the account 
between him and his printer, for a no¬ 
vel of three volumes of fifteen sheets 
each :— £. 
1800 reams of paper, 26s. . . . 2340 
Printing 45 sheets, at 211. . . . 945 
Advertizing. 100 
Commission, and other expences . 
■ 21,000 
17,015 
Taking the returns at only 11. Is. 
per copy, the retail price being 
11 .11s. 6d, we have a net pro¬ 
duce of 
Profit on first edition .... 
If to this be added 80001. for the 
profit of the second edition, it appears 
that each of those novels of three 
volumes, yields the enormous profit of 
25,0151. and if the copies were sold at the 
usual price of 21s. to the public, the 
profit would still be 15.0003.* Of course 
two of these publications per annum 
yields to tlieir fortunate author 50,0001. 
per annum. Such a case of reward for 
moderate exertions of genius and labour 
has no parallel. We have been taught 
to wonder at the proceeds of three or 
40001. for the lectures of the ancient 
philosophers repeated twice a year ; at 
the 35001. paid to Dr. Johnson for his 
Dictionary ; at the 60001. netted by Mr. 
Pope for his translation of Homer; at 
the 30001. paid to Mr. Moore for his 
Lalla Rookh ; and at the 30001. paid to 
Sir Walter Scott for some of his poems ; 
at the 10001. paid to Mrs. Radcliffe for 
* These calculations are made on the 
reported numbers, and on the presumption 
that the author merely employs Messrs. 
Ballantyne and Co. as printers on his own 
account, which is said to be the fact. 
Monthly Mag. No. 360. 
her Mysteries of Udolpho, and to Miss 
Burney for her last novel: but the au¬ 
thor's profits on these repeated produc¬ 
tions transcend every .former example 
of literary remuneration.* 1 
An expedition has been formed to 
explore certain parts of Africa which 
border upon Egypt. The object of the 
present expedition is (lie discovery of 
the remains of Greek and Roman edi¬ 
fices 
GOO 
3985 
gem.eman woo lias neen chosen by go¬ 
vernment, with the approbation of his 
Majesty, to superintend this expedition, 
is Mr. Beechey, many years secretary 
to Mr, Salt, the English consul to 
Egypt. The Lords of the Admiralty 
have fitted out a small vessel with a 
complement of men, and intrusted the 
command to Lieutenant Beechey. The 
vessel is intended to sail round the 
coast, and to wait upon the expedition, 
which will only proceed so far in the 
interior as will allow an easy return to 
the coast. The expedition will start 
trom Tripoli, to the Bey of which a 
communication has been despatched 
from this government to request assis¬ 
tance, which will, no doubt, he afford¬ 
ed. Libya, the country about to be 
explored, is that which in ancient times 
contained the two countries of Cyrenai- 
ca and Marmorica. South of Marmo- 
rica, which our countrymen will visit, 
and in the midst of the sands of the 
Libyan Desert, was a small and beauti¬ 
ful spot, refreshed by streams and 
luxuriant with verdure, in which stood 
the Temple, so celebrated in antiquity, 
of Jupiter Ammon. The expedition 
will, in all probability, be engaged 
three or four years. 
The miscellaneous works of the la'e 
Robert Willan, M.D. F.lLSj F.A.S. 
are preparing for publication, com¬ 
prising an Inquiry into the Antiquity 
of the Small Fox, Measles, and Scarlet 
Fever, now first published ; Reports on 
the Diseases in London, a new edition, 
&e. &c. in one volume octavo ; edited 
by Ashley Smith, M.D. Licentiate of 
the Royal College of Physicians of Lon¬ 
don. 
Mr. Peter Nicholson’s System of 
Pure and Mixed Mathematics, iu one 
large volume, for schools, a work which 
has been above seven years in the press, 
will appear before Christmas. It will 
2 X be 
