The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-01-04
MYSCELLANEOUg.
,sIR-YOU ARE A SUBSCRIBER"


Said tall guant figure, as he presented
W. WItn volume purportlng to be Bio
graphical Dictionary, containing the lives
OF the most eminent men OF every agc and
nation. We turned TO survey the stranger,
whose gigantic form seemed to possess n
Ben horse poi0er, and ourselves being but
che common strength and stature of man,
we show cd no disposition to deny the as
sertion. We felt the sense Of danger and
therefore resolved not to encounter it. A
collision with such mass ofbone and flesh
would be like the risk Of riding upon the
stormy and fathomlcss ocean, with nothing
but slender board TO preserve us from
destruction therefore, we conceded that
his claim was just, and paid the subscription,
which amounted to 81 IS, for one of the
most rascally imposit;ons ever prsctiscd up
On the public.
The work Biographical Dictionary is
n nigh relation Of Robbins Journal, Pres.
ident Monroe's Tour, American Biography,
Lito of Lafayette, Napoleon Bonaparte,
and host of other wretched literature
which has been issued from the press in
Connecticut--that land of wooden clocks
and nutmegs, and pedars-for the last Sc
ven or eight years. There is not, in the
whole list Of grievances which are stored
Tor the oflliction of man, more intolerable
nuisance than n person with subscription
in his hand, soliciting the honour Of your
name for the purpose of patronlzing ltera-
ture. His talisman is eii'rontery--there Is
no escape from hini--and is such an adept
in deceit, that one in order to avoid his i'm
portunities, will sign for his worthless trash
In fact, the instances of imposition, rcsul-
ting from subscribing for Books which we
are not acquainted with, are innumerable
but we are unable To cite only few. The
first which we have any recollection OF,
was Mironda's Expedition. This work was
first published in Boston, but III conso-
auence of ITS worthless nature was con
demned, and thousands ofthem were left up
on the publishers hands IA dead stock. A
few years ago specuator bought them
sent his runners into the couHtry-procur-
e. Subscribers at one dollar each--pasted
IL new title page, and delivered the work
n the time specified. The feelings enjoy
oil hy the subscribers after discovering
the fraud practscd upon themwere by no
means cnviable.
A short time since, proposals were is
sued for publishing splendid quarto bible,
In numbers, 10 l-2 cents per number, TO be
amhelhshel with elegant engravings, &c.
The apparent cheapness ofthe work-only
twelve and half cents per number--induc-
ed many, who were really unable, to pat
ronize the work; but after the delivery of
ono or two numbers it was found more con-
sencnt to embody eight into one thus in
measure, varying the terms ofthe subscrip-
ton: for majority Of the subscribers be-
Inc Of the labourng class, were led 10
subscribe under the conviction that they
might obtain an elegant edition of the BIZ
bic without feeling the eypense.-But
when the publishers came TO alter their
mode Of delivery, instead of one number
Der week az IL l-2 cents, the subscribers
had TO pay for eight at one dollar, the work
became heavy tax, and this chcap bible,
afor its completion and bound, cost at least
sea-! The plates were ordinasy--badly
designed and worse executed, many OF
which had been used in other works. The
same bibles eau now be purchased at half
the prce paid by the subscribers.
Hardly were the public recovered from
the smart proceeding from the last impo-
sitiou, when they were again insulted with
another subscription paper tor the works
of Josephus.--in numbers. A history of
the management in this affair our limits
will not permit us 10 give,--sutiice il TO OBJ
serve. that while the subscribers were paw
Inc sll S7 for the work in sheets the
same edition was selling in Boston for 81,
full bound, and good handsome editions
oonld be procured for four dollars.
Tho success which attended the Boston
specula,ors persuaded certain others in
Connecticut to 90 and do likewise, and ac-
cordinsly subscription hunters were for
aging in every part Of the country with
proposals 6,r the life Of Lafayette, at 81 as
then came American Biography, at sl as
followed up by the Life of Bolivar, ~ ~
--and last came Biographical Dictionary
81 75: for which we were subscribers.
The proposals for the work stated tha,
il was to be embellishcd with 20 portraits,
copied from European epgrayings. There