of this Magazine. 333 



to be more incumbent than others to contribute to the funds 

 of science, it is that class which is known to pursue science 

 as a source of emolument. And yet here is a person, de- 

 riving, according to public rumour, considerable emoluments 

 fi'om zoology ; nay, who is employed, with a liberal recom- 

 pense, on a work, for the completion of which he alleges that 

 it is necessary to consult the collection of a zoological esta- 

 blishment ; and yet he has not generosity sufficient to spare, 

 out of those ample emoluments, a trifle, — a very trifle, cer- 

 tainly not equal to the expenses of a journey to Paris, — to 

 support an institution, ostensibly devoted to a science which 

 liberally supports himself Does not the charge of illiberality- 

 thus recoil upon him who prefers it ? ' 



Such are the insufficient grounds of Mr. Swainson's accus- 

 ation, even according to his own statement. Let us now turn 

 to the actual facts of the case, as taken from the official 

 records of the Society. 



Mr. Swainson, Sir, nsoas a member of the Zoological Society, 

 He was among the first to afford to the infant establishment 

 the high sanction of his name ; but, unfortunately, his name 

 alone — vox et prceter^ea nihil — testified his devotion to the 

 science cultivated by that body. For two years he continued 

 a nominal member ; after which period a correspondence took 

 place on the subject between the financial department and 

 himself, which terminated in his expressing his wish to cease 

 being a member, on the plea of his not having it in his power 

 to enjoy any of the privileges of the Society. His request 

 was liberally and cordially complied with by the council, and 

 his name was withdrawn from the list of members. Shortly 

 after this period, Mr. Swainson again appeared before the 

 council of the Society ; not as a contributor to its support ; 

 not as the fulfiller, even the tardy fulfiUer, of his previous 

 engagements ; but as a suppliant for its favours. Unmindful 

 of the delicacy of the situation in which he had placed him- 

 self, and forgetful of his antecedent declaration that he could 

 enjoy no advantage from a connection with the Society, he 

 applied for permission to consult the museum ; nay, farther, 

 for what could scarcely be accorded even to the best bene- 

 factor of the Society, for unrestrained permission to consult 

 it ! No circumstances could have authorised the council 

 officially to grant such a request. Their rules, but more par- 

 ticularly the principles that dictated their rules, imperatively 

 forbade them. But still, in accordance with the truly liberal 

 spirit that animated all their proceedings, and unwilling that 

 any conduct towards themselves, however discourteous or 

 ungenerous, should interrupt the even tenour of that spirit, 



