3IO DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



against specimens belonging to your museum meet with my most 

 hearty ajjproval and sympathy. The assertions, in my opinion, were 

 unjust, uncalled-for, and unscientific; they were such as to cast stigma 

 ui)on all students who carry on field work. As one who has carried 

 on field work in archaeology for over ten years, I feel most sensitive 

 over the remarks made, because it insinuates — in fact, directly states 

 — that si)ecimens found by outsiders which are different from any in 

 the Smithsonian Institution are not to have any faith as to their gen- 

 uineness placed in them. Now, I have found many unique relics, and 

 it is rather hard on me if they are to be looked upon with suspicion 

 because I myself am the only one who can assert jjositively that they 

 are genuine; and yet, according to the article, my word is to go for 

 nothing. We should expect, from an institution like the Smithsonian, 

 that science would be encouraged, but they have taken rather strange 

 steps in this direction. There is, 'however, one satisfaction, and that 

 is the proof which the pamphlet plainly gives of the genuineness of the 

 elephant pipes, showing, as it does, Mr. Henshaw's absolute ignorance 

 of the subject on which he was writing. 



I thank you for sending me your pamphlet, and trust that it may 

 have the effect of in future making critics a little more cautious, and 

 not attempt to insinuate against the genuineness of relics without good 

 foundation for doing so. 



From A. E. Blair, Esq. 



Ca.stle Creek, N. Y., September 30, 1885. 

 Mr. Henshaw's position reminded me of some students who, when 

 they have mastered the alphabet of a new language, feel as if they 

 understood the whole thing. His attack upon the Academy was, to 

 say the least, unprovoked and ungentlemanly. Surely, if no "find" 

 or discovery were to be accredited except when made under the 

 eyes of an inspector, some of our most valuable relics must be laid 

 aside as unreliable. It is extremely unfortunate that the Smithsonian 

 Institution should stamp its approval upon an article so full of errors 

 as Mr. Henshaw's pajjcr was, since to many of its readers only that 

 one side will be presented. 



From W. .\. Chapman, Kso., Assayer. 



Okolona, Ark., September 6, 1885. 

 I am much pleased with the course pursued by the Academy 

 in this controversy, and regard the authenticity of the pipes and 

 tablets as settled beyond disjiute. My pleasure can be better defined 

 when I state that I have been an independent investigator, doing 

 much of the labor with my own hands, and often laboring alone. Had 

 I been so unfortunate as to have made the invaluable discoveries of 

 Mr. Gass, I should have been obliged to face the Smithsonian batteries 

 without his able defenders, and must have suffered complete annihila- 

 tion. The defense of Mr. Gass is the defense of all private investi- 

 gators. 



