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Matchett's Baltimore Director for 1833
Volume 492, Page 7   View pdf image (33K)
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TO SUBSCRIBERS AND THE PUPLIC.

RICHARD J. MATCHETT, takes the privilege, on presenting the patrons of his 6th edition of this work,
of observing that, from the commencement of taking the citizens' names, to binding the book, he has
met difficulty and expense at every step, which has delayed the publication beyond his expectations;
he has however, completed his task, and if he has not done, "the best his circumstance allows" in
it, lie will say, he hopes never to be engaged in a more disagreeable one (rendered so by circumstan-
ces uninteresting to the public and useless to be recapitulated.) The task of visiting every house in the
city, or paying for it, of spelling names (for which there is no rule,) pronounced alike, but spelt differ-
ently; of meeting rebuffs from the ignorant and impudent, and one has not far to travel to find such
who however discreetly solicited for the necessary information, will wantonly insult; the erroneous
charge in many instances of our having omitted names, by those who have not information sufficient
to know where to examine for them; of miss-spelling; of not putting a more full direction &c. &c.
We say the task has been found too severe for one individual (except the present publisher) to at-
tempt a second edition, and what is still more aggravating these difficulties are thrown in the way
by those generally whom the work has cost nothing.

In giving the register of names of a city containing over 80,000 inhabitants.it is most unreasonable to
expect there will not be omissions, errors in spelling and inserting addresses, and yet some have come
to call us to account for such incongruities ; after using our best efforts to be correct, however, we
will not be found ready to gratify those who make impertinent remarks.

The total number of subscribers to the present edition does not amount to 500—we have printed
750 copies only—It has taken 15 weeks at $8 yer week to take the names, besides the cost of print-
ing, of arranging them alphabetically, paper and binding; and hundreds complain that the book is
too high; and hundreds who are well able to bear a proportion of the cost of so necessary and indis-
pensable a work, refuse, as "it is to them unnecessary," yet will perhaps borrow it one hundred times
to find those whom they want; there are hundreds of others also, who refuse to subscribe because
they have "been taken in," and promised never to do so again; while we deny ever taking any in,
we doubt the sincerity of four fifths of those making such statements.

Yet we return thanks for favors—yes we do, we return thanks to the 470 whose favors hare
prompted us to bring out the book, (and those who require the book and refuse to subscribe ought to
do so to.) and to as many as will purchase it after it is out. But we offer no complaisances to those
who act in the manner we have stated. While we desire to suppress grumbling, we also exercise the
privilege of expressing truth.

We will cheerfully note ail corrections furnished by subscribers or others,and if they will take the
pains to examine and correct, we pledge ourselves to furnish them with a supplement gratis, by the
1st of July, but if they neglect it we cannot print it of course

 

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Matchett's Baltimore Director for 1833
Volume 492, Page 7   View pdf image (33K)
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