to each person is multiplied in an increasing ratio.

2. Knowledge is thus presented in so condensed a form as to be more
easily comprehended at a glance; so that your readers can with greater
facility construct or understand the theories deducible from the whole
circle of human knowledge.

3. Authors and inquiring men could tell, before expending days on the
perusal of large volumes, whether the _particulars_ which these books
contain would be suitable to the object they have in view.

4. The unfair criticisms which are made, and the erroneous notions
diffused by interested reviewers, would in a great measure be
corrected, in the minds, at least, of your readers.

You might object that such _precis_ would be as partial as the reviews
of which the whole literary world complain. But, in the first place,
these abstracts would be written by literary men who are not dependent
on booksellers for their livelihood, and would not therefore be likely
to write up trashy books or detract from the merit of valuable works,
for the sake of the book trade. And besides, your correspondents give
their articles under their signature, so that one could be openly
corrected by another who had read the same work. Again, it is only the
_leading idea_ of the book which you would require, and no attendant
praise or blame, neither eulogistic exordium nor useless appeals to
the reader. The author, moreover, might send you the skeleton of his
own book, and {490} you would of course give this the prior place in
your journal.

Another objection is, that the length of such _precis_ would not
permit them to come within the limits of your work. But they _should
not_ be long. And even if one of them should take up four or five
pages, you could divide it between two or three successive numbers of
your periodical. And, besides, your work, by embracing this object,
would be greatly increased in utility; the number of your subscribers
would be multiplied, and the increased expense of publication would
thus be defrayed.

But, if the advantages resulting from such a division of intellectual
labour would be as great as I fondly hope, I feel sure that the energy
and enterprise which caused you to give a tangible reality to your
scheme for "Notes and Queries" would also enable you to overcome all
difficulties, and answer all trifling objections.

R.M.

* * * * *

ON A PASSAGE IN LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST.

In _Love's Lab