I'm trying to check the boot log messages in the file /var/log/boot on Ubuntu 8.10 & 9.10 and I found it empty with the message (Nothing has been logged yet.). The bootlogd service is running at the startup.
I changed the file vim /etc/default/bootlogd
# Run bootlogd at startup ?
BOOTLOGD_ENABLE=No
Change No to Yes:
# Run bootlogd at startup ?
BOOTLOGD_ENABLE=Yes