KIDD'S
OWN JOURNAL;

FOR

INTER-COMMUNICATIONS ON NATURAL HISTORY,

POPULAR SCIENCE, AND THINGS IN GENERAL.

CONDUCTED BY

WILLIAM KIDD, OF HAMMERSMITH.

VOLUME V.

A DEEP mysterious SYMPATHY doth bind
The human heart to NATURE's beauties all;
We know not, guess not, of its force or kind,
But this full well we know,-- When ill doth fall
Upon us, when our hearts are sear'd and riven,
"Tis then we seek the shade, and raise our eyes to HEAVEN.

R. NICOL.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED FOR WILLIAM KIDD, BY
GROOMBRIDGE AND SONS, 5, PATERNOSTER ROW;

AND PROCURABLE, BY ORDER, OF ALL BOOKBELLERS.
AGENT FOR DUBLIN, JOHN WISEHEART ; EDINBURGH, J. MENZIES ;

GLASGOW, JOHN MLEOD, 66, ARGYLE STREET.

LONDON:
M. $. MYERS, 22, TAVISTOCK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

1223 TO THE READER.

ANOTHER HALF-YEAR has very quickly passed away. AGAiN are we called upon to offer a few brief observations whilst issuing this our FIFTH VOLUME.

Since our last Preface was penned, the whole aspect of affairs has undergone a change. Magic itself could not have worked a greater change. War has usurped the place of Peace. The world is universally disturbed. Very many of our excellent friends have been called away by “duty” to a Foreign land. The inhabitants of the earth are running hither and thither in a state of restlessness.

Literature, too, has quite altered its healthy tone. The better class of our Cheap Periodicals is, we are told, fast dwindling down in sale to zero. Two of them, in self-defence, have actually been compelled to commence a NEW NOVEL in their columns. These," written to order," are doled out in weekly installments !

There is no denying the fact, that public taste now inclines towards the vilest and cheapest trash. Countless Shilling Volumes, tricked out in grotesque green covers to attract the eye, are the order of the day,—their contents, for the most part, injurious in the highest degree. These are devoured by young and old; master and mistress, man-servant and maid-servant. All swallow greedily the mental poison prepared for them. Wholesome food for “the mind” is not wanted. It is out of fashion.

At this peculiar crisis, prudence bids us (for the present) back out of the field. The race is too “fast” a one for our breath to keep up with. The “ odds” being against us, we regard our mission as ended. We'retire from the course with an empty pocket. That might be expected (for we have fought bravely to the

very last); but as an equivalent, we preserve, intact, a tender heart and an honest conscience. We have labored hard to do good ; and we scarcely need remark that philanthropic pursuits are not “ remunerative.”

What our labors have been for the last few years (and our heavy loss by the venture), stand recorded in our FIVE VOLUMES. But such a phalanx of honorable men and women have we had as supporters, as have rarely fallen to the lot of any one public man. We acknowledge it with thankfulness, and speak of it with pardonable pride.

KIDD's JOURNAL owes little indeed of its popularity to the Editor. It is to the Contributors that all praise is justly due. By their noble sentiments—as nobly and honestly expressed, they have given birth to a standard work,-imperishable in interest, and one which has done good to an incalculable extent both at home and abroad. Better than all,—it has "won,” not forced its way to the hearts of the people.

May OUR JOURNAL long continue to extend its genial influences (for we sincerely believe it will never die); and may' ages yet unborn “take a leaf out of Our Book,”—for which, in after time, they may feel inclined to grant us their blessing! It is something” to live for posterity.

WILLIAM KIDD.

New ROAD, HAMMERSMITH,

July 1st, 1854.

INDEX AND CONTENTS OF VOLUME V.