854 



Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 



[July, 



press notes on the 64 plates, and these notes with the plates were 

 immediately suhmitted to the " Zoological Section," appointed in Feb- 

 ruary 1847, and composed of Capt. William Munro, J. W. Grant, 

 Esq., R. W. G. Frith, Esq., and J. W. Laidlay, Esq. These gentle- 

 men were requested to advise the Committee as to the mode of 

 publication of the plates and MS. and as to the amount of remunera- 

 tion due to Mr. Blyth. 



The Zoological Section have formally reported their opinion, that the 

 plates are " unworthy of publication under the auspices of the Society, 

 being in many instances so rudely executed that it is scarcely possible 

 to identify the animals they profess to represent, while in most others, 

 whether regarded as works of science or of art, they fall far below that 

 standard to which the Society's patronage should be extended •" regard- 

 ing the amount of remuneration to Mr. Blyth, the " Zoological Section" 

 observe that " while they regret that the funds of the Society should 

 be expended so uselessly, they are unanimously of opinion that what- 

 ever the Society has promised should be fulfilled." 



Fully adopting these views the Committee of Papers deem it neces- 

 sary by republication of all the requisite documents, to enable the mem- 

 bers of the Society to decide, 1st, as to the publication or suppression of 

 the plates, and 2dly, as to the actual nature of the promise made to My. 

 Blyth, the conditions under which that promise was accepted by Mr. 

 Blyth —and the manner in which these conditions have been fulfilled 

 on his part. 



The Committee are of opinion that the plates should not be published, 

 but that members desiring to be supplied with a set may have them on 

 paying the cost of binding. While the Committee would not oppose 

 the payment of Mr. Blyth' s claim if made exclusively on the grounds 

 of his general services to the Society during the period in question, 

 they cannot on the other hand advise that a sum of 3,200 Rs. should 

 be paid for the scanty and unsatisfactory MS. placed at their disposal 

 after a period of four years from the time when Mr. Blyth was first 

 instructed to edit Dr. Lord's manuscript. The questions above stated 

 will be submitted to the decision of the resident members of the Society 

 at the regular monthly meeting to be held on the 7th of July. 



W. B. O'Shaughnessy, 



Asiatic Society ,1 5th June, 1847. Sen, Secretary. 



