_The matter is so generally understood with regard to the management of
periodical works, that it is hardly necessary for the Editor to say
that_ HE CANNOT UNDERTAKE TO RETURN MANUSCRIPTS; _but on one point he
wishes to offer a few words of explanation to his correspondents in
general, and particularly to those who do not enable him to communicate
with them except in print. They will see, on a very little reflection,
that it is plainly his interest to take all he can get, and make the
most, and the best, of everything; and therefore he begs them to take
for granted that their communications are received, and appreciated,
even if the succeeding Number bears no proof of it. He is convinced that
the want of specific acknowledgment will only be felt by those who have
no idea of the labour and difficulty attendant on the hurried management
of such a work, and of the impossibility of sometimes giving an
explanation, when there really is one which would quite satisfy the
writer, for the delay or non-insertion of his communication.
Correspondents in such cases have no reason, and if they understood an
editor's position they would feel that they have no right, to consider
themselves undervalued; but nothing short of personal experience in
editorship would explain to them the perplexities and evil consequences
arising from an opposite course._
* * * * *
MYTHOS is thanked for his kind hints, which shall not be lost sight of.
We have abundance of NOTES on the subject, not only of the SEVEN WISE
MASTERS, but of that other treasury of ancient fictions, the GESTA
ROMANORUM, which we shall bring forward as opportunity offers.
S.Y. The edition of Chaucer, in five volumes 12mo, edited by Singer,
in 1822, was the only modern library edition of the "_Works_" until the
appearance of Sir H. Nicolas's edition in the Aldine Poets. Bell's
edition, in 14 volumes, and Dolby's in 2, though they may have done much
to extend a knowledge of the writings of the Father of English Poetry,
can scarcely be called library editions.
A.P. will see the matter he refers to illustrated in an early number.
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.--J.H.H.--M.--[Greek: ph]--T. Jones--[Greek:
S]--Buriensis.--G.H.B.--W.B.B.
BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES WANTED. We believe that this will prove one of
the most useful divisions of our weekly Sheet. Gentlemen who may be
unable to meet with any book or volume, of which they are in want, may
upon furnishing name, date, size, &c, have it inserted in this list,
_free of cost_. Persons having such volumes to dispose of are requested
to send reports of price, &c. to Mr. Bell, our Publisher.
* * * * *
Shortly will be published,
BIBLIOGRAPHIE BIOGRAPHIQUE ou Dictionnaire de 33,000 Ouvrages, tant
Anciens que Modernes relatifs, à l'Histoire de la Vie des Hommes
célèbres. 1 vol. imp. 8vo., double columns; about 900 pages. Price about
2l. 12s. 6d.
A Prospectus may be had, and orders are received by WILLIAMS AND
NORGATE, 14 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden.
* * * * *
THE CAMDEN SOCIETY FOR THE PUBLICATION OF EARLY HISTORICAL AND LITERARY
REMAINS.
The following works are now ready for delivery to Members who have paid
their Annual Subscription of 1l., due on the first of May last.--
I. INEDITED LETTERS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH, AND KING JAMES VI. From the
Originals in the possession of the Rev. Edward Ryder, of Oaksey, Wilts.,
and from a MS. formerly belonging to Sir P. Thompson. Edited by JOHN
BRUCE, Esq., Treas. S.A.
II. THE CHRONICLE OF THE ABBEY OF PETERBOROUGH; from a MS. in the
Library of the Society of Antiquaries. Edited by THOMAS STAPLETON, Esq.,
F.S.A.
WILLIAM J. THOMS, Secretary.
Applications from Members who have not received their copies may be made
to Messrs. Nichols, 25. Parliament Street, Westminster, from whom
prospectuses of the Society (the annual subscription to which is 1l.)
may be obtained, and to whose care all communications for the Secretary
should be addressed. {31}
* * * * *
NOTES AND QUERIES; A MEDIUM OF INTER-COMMUNICATION FOR LITERARY MEN,
ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC.
Among the many periodicals which issue from the press, daily, weekly,
monthly, or quarterly, there is not one especially intended to assist
Men of Letters and of research in their pursuits. Literary Journals
there are in abundance, many of them of the highest degree of merit,
which in their Reviews and Announcements show the current sayings and
doings of the literary world. There is not, however, one among them in
which the reading many may note, for the use of himself and his
fellow-labourers in the wide field of Literature, the minute facts which
he meets with from time to time, and the value of which he so well
knows, or insert his _Queries_, in the hope of receiving satisfactory
answers from some of his literary brethren.
NOTES AND QUERIES, A MEDIUM OF INTER-COMMUNICATION FOR LITERARY MEN, is,
as its name implies, intended to supply this deficiency. Those who meet
with facts worthy of preservation, may record them in its columns; while
those, again, who are pursuing literary inquiries, may, through this
MEDIUM, ask for information on points which have baffled their own
individual researches. How often is even the best informed writer
stopped by an inability to solve some doubt or understand some obscure
allusion which suddenly starts up before him! How often does a reading
man stumble upon some elucidation of a doubtful phrase, or disputed
passage;--some illustration of an obsolete custom hitherto
unnoticed;--some biographical anecdote or precise date hitherto
unrecorded;--some book, or some edition, hitherto unknown or imperfectly
described.
This Publication, as everybody's common-place book, will be a depository
for those who find such materials, and a resource for those who are in
search of them; and if the Editor is enabled by the inter-communication
of his literary friends, to realise his expectations, it will form a
most useful supplement to works already in existence,--a treasury for
enriching future editions of them,--and an important contribution
towards a more perfect history than we yet possess of our Language, our
Literature, and those to whom we owe them.
NOTES AND QUERIES will be published every Saturday, price 3d., or
stamped, 4d., and may be had, by order, of all Booksellers and Newsmen,
and will also be issued in Parts at the end of each Month.
Communications for the Editor may be addressed to the Publisher, Mr.
GEORGE BELL, No. 186. Fleet Street, by whom also Advertisements will be
received.
* * * * *
Preparing for Publication, in One Vol. 8vo.
ILLUSTRATIONS of the REMAINS of ROMAN ART in CIRENCESTER, the SITE of
ANCIENT CORINIUM. By JAMES BUCKMAN, F.G.S. and C.H. NEWMARCH, Esq.
The work will have reference principally to the illustration of the
following subjects:
1. The remains of the architecture of Corinium, including detailed
drawings and descriptions of the fine Tesselated Pavements, especially
the one recently discovered, as also the beautiful specimen on the
estate of the Right Hon. Earl Bathurst.