1839] Asiatic Society. 1067 



object," i. e. for making a grand collection, but as the things in question are already in 

 the Museum, they are not merely " available" for the object in view, but constitute 

 so much of the object itself already accomplished. 



13. The Committee continue, " while waiting for these additions to our collection, 

 he," the Curator, " should proceed to label these already in our possession." It is 

 within the recollection of the Society, that I stated eight months ago, that I could do 

 nothing with the geological collection until cabinets were first provided : these were 

 accordingly sanctioned by the Society, but ordered by the Secretary from a native for 

 less than he could afford to provide them for, the consequence is, that they still remain 

 unfinished.* This is an instance of the ill effects of leaving the Curator dependant 

 on the Secretary, or any one else, for things on which his own work depends ; and as 

 the circumstance is brought forward rather unfairly in the report of the Committee, 

 I must be permitted to say, that had any member of that body required an easy chair, 

 we may presume he would have obtained it at once, from the best cabinet maker, cost 

 what it might. 



14. There is but one name attached to the report which can be at all held responsi- 

 ble in a scientific point of view for the sentiments embodied in it, and although Dr. 

 Wallich may fairly be exonerated as any great authority on the subject of Museums, 

 yet his own experience ought to have suggested the difficulty of making monthly 

 reports on subjects connected with Natural History, he himself finding a single report 

 too much to accomplish in the five years, that have now elapsed since his return from 

 Assam. 



15. From what has taken place on this subject, I have been induced to refer to the 

 rules of various Societies and Museums, in hopes of finding some rules laid down for 

 the duties of Curators. You will doubtless be very much surprised to learn, that 

 though in all cases the duties of Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and Secretaries are strictly 

 laid down in bye-laws, yet Curators alone appear to be the only officers who are left 

 altogether to conduct their duties according to the best of their judgment and ac- 

 quirements. Were they not the chief authority in all things on which the advance- 

 ment, arrangement, and preservation of collections of Natural History depend, how 

 could they be held responsible for their charge ? 



16. The antiquities may be safely left, as far as their " preservation " is concerned, 

 to the " honorary services of the oriental secretary, the librarian, and pundits," but 

 the natural history and geological departments must be left to a naturalist and 

 geologist, for whose services the Society can have no security beyond his own reputa- 

 tion. Nothing could show the necessity of this more than the present attempt to 

 reduce the Curator from that honorable and independent station which he fills in 

 civilized countries, to a state of dependence on the caprice of Committees. 



I have the honor to be, 

 Gentlemen, 

 Your most obedient servant, 



J. M'CLELLAND. 

 28th Feb. 1840, 



* Here Dr. M'Clelland is in ignorance of the facts, and consequently makes errone- 

 ous statements. — Eds. 



