Reply to Art L No. XVIIL of Urn Magazine. 319 



is neither fair nor just to speak of foreign naturalists in a 

 different language to that which we should use among our- 

 selves; and I will put it to Mr. Bennett's good sense and good 

 feelings, whether such language would not breed dissensions 

 among us, or would not deeply injure the reputations of MM. 

 Desmarest and Lesson, if left uncontradicted. 



Tittenhanger Green, St. Alban's, 

 May 28. 1831. 



Art. VI. A Reply to Art. I. No. XVIIL of this Magazine. By 

 N. A. Vigors, Esq. A.M. F.R.S. &c., in a Letter to the Editor. 



My dear Sir, 



The appeal which I stated, in my letter of the 12th of 

 April (p. 206.), that I had made to the writer of an 

 article in your Magazine (p. QT.)? containing many extra- 

 ordinary and injurious attacks upon my character, has been 

 made in vain. The hopes I had entertained that I should 

 have been spared the mortification of being the vindi- 

 cator of my own reputation, and the pain of exposing, at the 

 same time, the conduct of a fellows-labourer in science, have 

 thus been frustrated. My forbearance has been met by a 

 repetition of the same offensive insinuations ; and my concili- 

 atory advances have only subjected me to insult in addition to 

 injury. 



I do not however regret having made that appeal, although 

 it has been thus abortive. I feel that in that act I have done 

 my duty. I feel strong in the approbation of those eminent 

 and impartial persons through whom I made the appeal, as 

 well as of all those my coadjutors in science whose favourable 

 opinion it is an honour to possess ; and who, having admitted 

 that I had done all in my power to avert the continuance of 

 this controversy, and the exposures consequent to it, have 

 decided that 1 am perfectly justified in using the weapons, 

 however severe, with which a just cause has supplied me. 

 I now enter into the combat with unsullied hands. If my 

 language be strong, or my observations severe, they both are 

 forced upon me. My opponent has left me no other alterna- 

 tive in repelling his unprovoked and wanton outrage. 



The unprovoked and wanton nature of this attack is one, 

 indeed, of its most extraordinary features. The common 

 civilities of life dictate a conciliating mode of feeling and 



