3o6 DAVENP(JRT ACADEMY OF NATURAI, SCIENCES. 



May the Davenport Academy be instrumental in advancing the 

 noble work in which they are engaged, and always stand up boldly, as 

 in this instance, for its honor and the truth. 



Respectfully yours, A. G. Webber. 



F?-om E. P. ViNiNG, Author of '■'■ An Inglorious Coin minis.'''' 



Chicago, III., June 24, 1885. 

 Chas. E. Putnam, Esq., President Academy of Natural Sciences, Dav- 

 enport, Iowa, — 



Dear Sir: Permit me to express my sympathy with your reply to 

 the attack upon your society contained in the last report of the Bu- 

 reau of Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Original investigators — those who, amid many discouragements, are 

 Avilling to spend time, labor, and money in endeavoring to learn some- 

 thing of the past history of this continent — ^ are not numerous, and it 

 is but reasonable to ask that no attacks should be made upon their 

 honesty and good faith until after careful investigation and thorough 

 examination have clearly shown them to be called for. When those 

 who are supported in their researches by the Government attempt to 

 criticise the work of the few volunteers who labor without hope of 

 reward, even a special degree of care would seem to be due, and it is 

 therefore surprising that the attack should have been based upon 

 grounds which a mere glance at your pipes, or at the photographs of 

 them, which were in the possession of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 would have shown to be erroneous. 



It is unfortunate that a very small doubt, based upon the shallowest 

 or most mistaken of grounds, is often considered to outweigh the most 

 earnest labor and the most convincing proofs. Nevertheless, time, 

 which tries all things, will give to each his due. 



Hoiking that your society will not be discouraged in the prosecution 

 of its good work, I remain. Yours very truly, 



E. P. ViNING. 



From Prof. J. Henry Comstock. 



Ithaca, N. Y., April 5, 1885. 

 Mr. Charles E. Putnam, Davenport, loiva, — 



My Dear Sir: Please accept my thanks for the copy of your paper 

 on elephant jnpes which was sent me. I have read it very carefully, 

 and fully sympathize with your views as expressed in it. 



Yours sincerely, 



J. Henry Comstock. 



Fro7n Rev. W. M. Beauchamp. 



Baldwinsville, N. Y., April 7, 1885. 

 Mr. C. E. Putnam, — 



Dear Sir: I have read your i)aper on the elephant pipes with in- 

 terest — all the more from having read Mr. Henshaw's article with like 



