APPENDIX. [197] 



Against all these proofs he opposes the following random and irrelevant 

 statement, which leaves their whole strength unimpaired. 



9. " Mr. Vigors, by personal importunity, got permission to write my name on the paper sent 

 round for its establishment. Sir Stamford Raffles was then alive ; and Dr. Horsfield, I was told, 

 was to be secretary. Upon these names I relied for a liberal set of measures. I soon, how- 

 ever, quitted London, and never heard more of the Society, until I received the subjoined letter, 

 &c. &c. Sir Stamford in the interim had dred ; Dr. Horsfield had retired ; and the whole con- 

 cern had assumed the characteristics of any thing but of a liberal scientific institution. I conse- 

 quently would not confirm my first intention, and declined joining a Society where -science was 

 not wanted." 



It happens, fortunately, that, in the present controversy with Mr. Swain- 

 son, I am saved much trouble in replying to his statements, by using his 

 own words and arguments to convict himself. My reply to the foregoing 

 paragraph will be an extract from the same letter which I have already 

 quoted, in which he gives a different, and, I must add, a truer version of 

 this matter. Before I extract it, however, let us examine the statement 

 itself. He joins our Society in consequence, as he alleges, of the personal 

 importunities of its Secretary — that very illiberal Secretary, with whose 

 sentiments, conduct, and scientific attainments he had so much cause to 

 be dissatisfied. I should, perhaps, point out the incongruity of this cause 

 with this effect, did I not recollect a precedent in point where a similar 

 reason had led to a similar result : the well known case. Sir, of the lady 

 who married a worthless suitor, in order to get rid of his importunities ! 

 Dr. Horsfield, he was told, was to be Secretary. The importunate Secre- 

 tary, who inveigled him into the act of signing his name in the list of 

 members, if he had been asked at the time of such temptation, would have 

 told him who had been the holder of the office from the first institution 

 of the Society, and would have added, that he was ably assisted by 

 Dr. Horsfield, in the no less efficient office of Vice- Secretary. He retired, 

 Mr. Swainson continues, from London, and never heard more of the Society 

 until he received a circular letter calling upon him to fulfil his engage- 

 ments, or decline being a member. I only here observe, that individuals, 

 wishing well to science, generally make the enquiry of their own accord 

 as to its progress; or, at least, they open their eyes to the public accounts 

 of such progress stated periodically in scientific publications : while indi- 

 viduals anxious to discharge their pecuniary obligations generally volun- 

 teer to ascertain the means of ridding themselves of such obligations. The 

 death of the first President, he continues, and the retirement of Dr. Hors- 

 field, followed. Now, Sir, the former was succeeded in the presidency by 

 the Marquess of Lansdowne, and subsequently by Lord Stanley: Dr. Hors- 

 field was succeeded by Mr. Bennett. Unfortunately, however, such names 

 were ao guarantee in the eyes of Mr. Swainson for securing to the concern 

 the character of a liberal scientific institution ,• and, alas ! for the interests 

 of the society, Mr. Swainson withdrew from it the magic of his name, as 

 well as the promise of his two pounds' yearly subscription. But science 

 has still some hope in reserve ; still is there some counterpoise to this 

 apparently irretrievable calamity. He has transferred the halo of his 

 reputation to another " concern," where he finds " science is wanted; '* 

 and, according to the announcement now travelling the round of the 

 newspapers, with an interest almost equally absorbing as that which 

 attends the daily bulletin of the advance of the Cholera, or the jxrogress 

 of Reform, he has accepted the dignity of Joist Honorary Zoologist to 

 the Surrey Zoological Gardens I 



But to come to his own statement of the case, when less under the 

 influence of the irritating feelings of discomfiture. The following is a rea- 

 sonable statement of it ; and if he had restrained his hostility to the 

 institution on which, as appears by his own showing, his circumstances 

 did not permit him to confer his good will, it would have afforded a isatis- 

 factorv explanation. 



[N] 4 



