Allow me to suggest, as an addition to the sphere of usefulness of the
"NOTES AND QUERIES," that persons preparing new editions of old writers
should give an early intimation of the work on which they are engaged to
the public, through your paper. Very many miscellaneous readers are in
the habit of making notes in the margins of their books, without any
intention of using them themselves for publication, and would be glad to
give the benefit of them to any body to whom they would be welcome; but
as matters are now arranged, one has no opportunity of hearing of an
intended new edition until it is advertised as being in the press, when
it is probably too late to send notes or suggestions; and one is also
deterred from communicating with the editor from doubts {244} whether
he will not think it an intrusion: doubts which any editor who _did_
wish for communications might dispel by making such an announcement as I
have suggested.