424 Observations on the {May, 



I believe I have now replied to the zoological part of Dr. Jameson's 

 observations, and shewn — First, that the censure he bestows does not 

 belong to me ; secondly, that those parts of the Museum he praises 

 were especially under my care ; and, thirdly, that his suggestions for the 

 improvement of the zoological department of the Museum are either 

 pernicious, or have been anticipated years ago. I shall now proceed to 

 state what I did while I held the office of Curator, so that he, or any 

 body else who feels disposed to the work, may deal out upon me the 

 censure he may consider me to merit ; for, as I wish not to usurp 

 credit which does not belong to me, I am not any longer inclined to 

 be under imputations of misconduct and neglect, for the errors and 

 omissions of others. 



I think it was so early as the year 1830 that I proposed to Sir E. 

 Ryan, then, as now, the most disinterested lover of science in the So- 

 ciety, the establishment of a Museum of Natural History for the Asiatic 

 Society. I was at that time at Midnapore, and the suggestion, though 

 favoured with his support, was too much in advance of the feelings of 

 the day, almost exclusively confined to the love of Oriental literature. 

 On removing to Calcutta in 1832, I proposed the matter to the Society 

 at large; but nothing could be done till July 1833, when I was ap- 

 pointed, much against my will, honorary Curator of the Museum of 

 Natural History. This I nominally held till March 1835, and it was 

 but nominally, to please Mr. Prinsep, and against my own wishes and 

 judgment; for no assistance was given me. I could but ill afford to 

 keep up additional expenses to convey me to the Museum ; and more 

 than all, I felt that my circumstances were then such as not to warrant 

 my so giving up time, which I ought to employ to the benefit of my 

 family ; therefore I resigned the situation, and proposed, that a per- 

 son properly qualified should be sent for from Europe, to fill it. The 

 subject was hereupon referred to the Committee of Papers (as it is re- 

 ported in the Journal of the Asiatic Society, but as I think, to a Sub- 

 Committee) for the purpose of considering the question. This Com- 

 mittee consulted Baron Hugel, and the majority agreed that fof various 

 reasons, stated in their report, it would be better to employ a Curator 

 already in the country, whose services could be procured at less cost, 

 and devote part of the sum proposed, for the contingent expenses. To 

 this the Society agreed, and I was elected Curator in April 1835, as 

 an experiment for one year. 



When I took charge of the Museum no order nor arrangement had 

 been observed ; specimens of the arts and sciences of India, and the 

 neighboring countries, of their religion and manufactures^ antique 

 and modern, were mixed with those of Natural History in abundant 



