82 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [No. 1, 



4. A naturalist would thus be able either from on boardship or 

 from the posts on the seaboard to make good collections and obtain 

 valuable information, even if unable to accompany the force into the 

 interior in whatever direction it may proceed. 



5. The Council however venture to think that a naturalist would 

 find it possible to accompany the advance of the army without serious 

 danger, and they are further convinced that an equally good oppor- 

 tunity is not likely to occur again, and that it would hereafter be a 

 matter for regret if no use were made of it ; nor do they think it 

 immaterial to add, in confirmation of their own views, that the French 

 Government, as they have recently ascertained, has already dispatched 

 a naturalist to the East to accompany the allied forces. 



6. The Council have learnt from the public journals that attention 

 has already been called to the subject at home, and they have reason 

 to believe that H. M. Government have been addressed on the subject 

 by leading men of science in England. They nevertheless feel it a 

 duty to lay the subject before the Government here, because they 

 believe that a man possessing special qualifications for such a 

 task, by his previous studies and by his extensive knowledge of the 

 Zoology of Asia, is present on the spot and ready to undertake the 

 duties and the risk. Moreover, the name of Mr. Blyth, who has a 

 high reputation in Europe, has been prominently put forward in the 

 London Times and AtJienceum as the gentleman best suited for such 

 a commission. 



7. The Council therefore, while fully appreciating the motives which 

 influenced His Excellency in declining to entertain their proposal when 

 first submitted to him, still venture to hope that the great importance 

 of such a mission in a scientific point of view, the probability that so 

 favorable an opportunity may not occur again, and the fact that Mr. 

 Blyth is quite willing to encounter the danger, whatever it may be, 

 may lead to a reconsideration of the question, and an affirmative de- 

 cision. 



8. The Council have given some attention to the matter of expense 

 and think a personal salary of Rs. 500 with travelling expenses would 

 be a fair remuneration. 



In addition to this some allowance would be required to provide a 

 staff of native taxidermists and collectors. 



