The Magazine of Natural History, 1838, Vol. 2 (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Magazine of Natural History, 1838, Vol. 2

The Editor willingly renews the conditional pledge held out in 1837, with regard to its continuation, and in one respect he may do so with greatly increased confidence, since the risk of an inadequate supply of communications, is a crisis which no longer threatens the Magazine, although one which undoubtedly existed about the time the change in the Editorship took place. Altogether indeed the circumstances under which the publication of the present series was determined on were most inauspicious. The Editor was unknown even by report to the subscribers several of the more valuable Contributors had seceded to establish the Magazine of Zoology and Botany, ' whilst another por tion of them had united to establish a rival periodical, under the falla cions expectation that it would prove a source of pecuniary emolument and no lack of solicitations and tempting proposals was wanting to win over the few who yet stood by Mr. London. In this position of affairs, to have succeeded in carrying the Magazine forward and pro curing for it the favourable Opinion of men of undoubted scientific eminence, is a result that cannot be otherwise than gratifying to the Editor. His labor, it is true, might in a pecuniary sense, have been otherwise more profitably employed; for the encouragement bestowed in this country upon scientific periodicals is so slight, that if the question of remuneration were entertained for a moment on the part of those who are engaged in them, it would be fatal to the existence of any English journal, on the pages of which Zoology forms a leading feature. Yet it is this class of works that is turned to for information upon ever new discovery in science, - which is so eagerly had recourse to when t e result of individual observation or research, requires rapid and universal publicity, and by which a medium of common inter course and communication is established between the cultivators of science in every quarter of the globe.

With regard to the prospects of the Magazine of Natural History, ' the Editor indulges a hope that ultimately it may so far form an ex ception to the general rule, as to enable him to conduct it upon the strength of its own resources, without feeling that its existence is de pendent upon fortuitous circumstances. Ii' in the number of those among whom it now circulates there be any who think that its columns might supply a more regular and comprehensive report of what is passing in the scientific world, the Editor can only plead the want of power, and not that of inclination to supply this deficiency. After being carried on without interruption for nine years under the super intendence of Mr. London, the Magazine was threatened with the same fate that has befallen some of its contemporaries, and though this danger has been averted, the hours successfully devoted to that object have only been such as could be snatched from leisure intervals of more definite occupation.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.