May, 1844. j Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. xlv 



H. Torrens, Esq. 



Dear Sir, —You may remember about two years ago, the Asiatic Society ordered 

 Arrowsmith's Map of India from us, which was shipped to the Society in January 1842. 

 The order from the Society for it is worded thus: " As soon as possible send to my 

 address, as Secretary to the Asiatic Society, a copy of the latest Map of India, by Ar- 

 rowsmith, of the largest size, on spring rollers, &c. for the use of the Society." 



The order was strictly complied with in the selection of Arrowsmith's largest and 

 latest Map ; on its arrival the Society write, 



" The letter advising the dispatch of Arrowsmith's Map has come to hand, but I beg 

 to observe, that although my letter of the 15th May 1841, commissioned the latest pub- 

 lished Map by Arrowsmith, yet you are aware that since the Map was compiled by 

 him, Arrowsmith, more countries have been acquired and more full and complete 

 Maps of India have been published under the auspices of the East India Company; 

 and if the Society is not much mistaken, these publications have been undertaken by 

 yourselves. Under these circumstances the Society expected, that notwithstanding 

 Arrowsmith's Map was specially ordered, you would have exercised your judgment 

 to send the latest and most complete Map of India instead of the one sent by you. The 

 Map from its incompleteness is quite useless to the Society, and as such, it is, I re- 

 gret to say, rejected, and made over to Messrs. Thacker and Co., to whom you will 

 please give instructions for its disposal." 



The Society again write on the 5th September, 1843: — 



" Although the Society is not disposed at present to disturb the account current 

 closed to the 30th June 1843, yet I am desired to say, that it is susceptible of adjust- 

 ment with reference to my letter of February, as regards the cost and charges of Ar- 

 rowsmith's Map ; viz. £18 10*, which has been rejected by the Society as incomplete. 

 You have already been advised that the Map has already been made over to Messrs. 

 Thacker and Co. for disposal on your account." 



On perusal of the foregoing it will be clear to you, that we had no alternative, but 

 to forward the Society Arrowsmith's Map of India, which is double the size of ours. 

 It would have been much more to our advantage to have disposed of our own publica- 

 tion instead of purchasing Arrowsmith's ; but it would not have been either honest to 

 the Society or to Arrowsmith, had we done so. We concluded that Arrowsmith's Map 

 was well known to the Society, and for aught we knew, the Society might have already 

 possessed our Map, which is always procurable in Calcutta. Under these circumstances 

 it is quite clear, that it is no fault of ours that the Map ordered to the Society has 

 proved of little use. We conclude the Map to be still in the hands of Messrs. Thacker 

 and Co. For the last year we have had no connection with them, and it is not our 



