1841.] Asiatic Society. 67 



Copy of a Letter to Dr. McClelland referred to in the foregoing Report. 

 Dear Sir, 



A dispatch having been received by the Government of India from the Honourable 

 the Court of Directors, in which, referring to Proceedings of the Asiatic Society for 

 February, September, October, and November, 1838, they state, that it would appear 

 that collections of Natural History have been detained at the Society's Rooms since 

 those epochs, I have been desired to furnish a report thereon. 



2. They refer more particularly to Dr. Helfer's and Captain Pemberton's col- 

 lections. Of the first of these, (Dr. Helfer's,) I have been able to render a full 

 account, quite exonerating the Society or its officers from any blame. 



3. Of the second : we have in the Proceedings reference to three collections, mostly 

 birds, deposited by Capt. Pemberton, and at p. 749, (Journal 1838,) that 145 birds 

 were presented by him " under instructions from Government." It appears, moreover, 

 by the books, that on the 29th February 1840, four cases which the Messrs. Bouchez 

 state to have been packed and marked here for the Honourable the Court, were sent 

 to the Marine Board for shipment, but they have no receipt for them. 



4. I am therefore desired to request from you, on the part of the Society, the best 

 information you can afford us as to these, or any other Government collections of 

 Natural History, which may have been received or sent out while you were in 

 charge of the Society's Museum ; with any documents or receipts which may enable 

 us to explain to the full satisfaction of Government, what has become of them. 



I am Sir, &c. 

 Calcutta, H. Piddington, 



As. Socy. Rooms, 12th March, 1841. Actg. Curator, As. Socy. Museum. 



No. 806. To Dr. J. McClelland, 



Curator, Asiatic Society's Museum. 



Sir, 



With reference to your letter dated 29th ultimo, I am directed by the Marine 



Board to inform you of the shipment on the Shepherdess, Capt. Biggar, of the 4 



boxes containing Natural Curiosities for England, to the address of the Honourable 



the Court of Directors, at the rate of £ 5-5 per ton of 50 cubic feet ; freight payable 



in England on due delivery of the boxes. 



I have the honor to be, 



Fort William, Sir, 



Marine Board Office, Your most obedient Servant, 



The hth March, 1840. C. B. Greenlaw, 



Secretary. 



Resolved — That Mr. Piddington's report be forwarded to the Government, and 

 that attention be particularly directed to the three points suggested in paragraphs 10, 

 11, and 13, by the Officiating Curator for the consideration of Government, and 

 more particularly for the employment of taxidermists at its expence to accom- 

 pany gentlemen desirous of contributing to the knowledge of Indian Natural 

 History, but now deterred from doing so, for want of knowledge, or want of time, or 

 the expence. 



