Dec. 1844.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. cxli 



The accompanying papers with a memorandum from the Secretary are re-circulated 

 by his desire, and the specimens of our work as ready for the Journal and Researches. 



H. PlDDINGTON, 



Thursday Noon. Sub-Secretary Asiatic Society. 



I beg to re-circulate these papers. 



It is easy to advocate the acceptance of Major Jervis's offer, but not so facile to ex- 

 plain to the Editor of a monthly Journal how he is to satisfy his contributors by speedy 

 publication of their illustrated papers, as well as to insure them against risk of loss of 

 their original drawings when the publication of their articles, and the very conserva- 

 tion of their originals, is contingent upon the hazards of a transmission to England to a 

 third party? 



To put the matter as fully as possible before the Committee, I circulate the speci- 

 mens or proof lithographs of drawings now on hand for publication in the Journal 

 and the Researches, with their originals. The botanical lithographs are to illustrate 

 Dr. Griffith's paper for Cantor's Chusan. 



I submit that these local productions are rather above the average of such work for 

 scientific periodicals, and although inferior to Major Jervis', yet respectable and 

 even creditable to the Journal, and not unworthy the Researches. 



I trust the Committee will not make the difficult task of editing a scientific Journal 

 in India, next to impossible, by requiring illustrations of papers published monthly to 

 be prepared in a country whence, at the shortest, I could not get them under five 

 months. 



The preparation of plates for the Researches by Major Jervis is I think most 

 expedient. 



H. Tokrkns, 

 V. P. and Secretary Asiatic Society. 



Additional Memorandum by the Sub-Secretary. 



Between the first and second circulation of the papers relative to Major Jervis' pro- 

 posal, thinking that the opinion of a scientific man, himself an artist, of experience in 

 Indian scientific publications, and well acquainted with the business details as well as 

 the tricks which are, it is said, sometimes practised in these matters, would be 

 useful, 1 wrote to Dr. Griffith, then on his way down the river, on the subject. I un- 

 fortunately did not keep a copy of my letter, but I was very careful not to say any 

 thing which could bias him either way ; stating only that as it had been proposed, and 

 was now under consideration, to send drawings home for lithographing for the Society's 

 publications I should be glad to have his opinion of this proposal as regarded the 

 interests of men of science, the risks of the drawings, copying here, &c. &c. and the 

 style of execution of Calcutta artists ; his answer is as follows : — 



My dear Sir, — I think the state of copying drawings in Calcutta, promising enough 

 to entitle Calcutta artists to patronage ; two or three more attempts, and their copies 

 would be equal to most of the drawings in ordinary periodicals, and at any rate be 

 quite equal to properly illustrating the subjects. 



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