962 Asiatic Society. [Nov. 



when our Museum will have the aid of curators of far higher qualifications than the 

 Society could obtain from Europe for any small sum we can ever hope to be able to offer. 



29th January, 1840. J. M'CLELLAND. 



P. S. — I was afraid that in sending home for a Curator it might be forgotten that we 

 have eminently qualified persons in India, and am therefore the better pleased to find 

 that since my remarks were circulated, the names of three to whom I particularly al- 

 luded, have been incorporated in the Secretary's Minute. lam however, very sanguine 

 as to soon seeing several qualified scientific men in Calcutta, for offices of this nature. 



J. M'CLELLAND. 



Minute by Mr. H. T. Prinsep. 



I wish to see this question fairly discussed at the meeting on Wednesday next. I 

 see no other arrangement that can be proposed, except to place Dr. M'Clelland in 

 the office for the coming year ; but I think unless he will pledge himself to daily atten- 

 dance, and monthly reports, that he should be considered, as he himself suggests, as 

 officiating until we can find a qualified person who will give more time to it. 



I think with him, that it will be preferable to look out for a Curator amongst the 

 highly qualified persons we have in India, rather than take the chance of obtaining a 

 good man from England. 3001. per annum, or 250 per mensem, is not enough to satisfy 

 a man of science. Indents for Editors, and even for Schoolmasters, from Europe have 

 not ordinarily been successful. 



H. T. PRINSEP, 

 D. STEWART, 

 30^ January, 1840. W. N. FORBES, 



D. McLEOD. 



On the day of the meeting Dr. M'Clelland submitted the following 

 additional Minute. 

 As the Museum at the India House is alluded to in the dispatch of the Honorable 

 the Court of Directors, No. 17 of 1839, dated the 18th September, the following re- 

 marks on that collection is extracted from a private letter addressed by Dr. Horsfield 

 to Mr. M'Clelland, Bengal Medical Service, dated Library, East India House, 

 August 31st, 1839. 



" The Museum itself is not very extensive, but it is nevertheless of much importance 

 in connexion with Indian zoology, as it contains several extensive local collections. 



"It consists mainly of the following Faunas, which are more or less perfect : — 



" Firstly. A collection of upwards of 200 species of birds from Java, and a propor- 

 tional number of quadrupeds. This was formed by myself, and brought to England in 

 1819, when it constituted the nucleus of our Zoological collection. 



" Secondly. We have a pretty complete series of Birds collected in Sumatra by Sir 

 Stamford Raffles, and some of his Mammalia. 



" Thirdly. We - have a similar collection made by the late Dr. Finlayson in Siam 

 and in the Indian Archipelago. 



