1847.] Reply to the Minute of Capt. Munro. 1 1 75 



very unsparingly. The Society is, of course, right in expecting the highest 

 amount of qualification from its scientific officers : but it is for the members 

 of the Society to consider what they give in return for such proficiency, 

 and what advantages their Museum and Library afford for isolated study, 

 unaided as in Europe by the friendly intercourse of numerous fellow students 

 of the same subject, who mutually impart much valuable information one to 

 another, and by the great facilities afforded otherwise in various ways.* 

 It is for them also to consider how much discouragement is involved in the 

 slight offered to an officer from whom so much is expected, by allowing him 

 no voice whatever in advising the Society respecting the selection of plates 

 for publication, which he is called upon to illustrate ; though by regarding 

 which, they might at least have chosen the better of two drawings of the 

 same species for publication, instead of going to the expense of lithographing 

 both, and have avoided that expense in numerous other cases where the 

 commonest European species were badly figured. There are few, I think, 

 but will allow that I have little cause to be satisfied with any part of my 

 connexion with this unfortunate publication, now so decried, though formerly 

 so highly eulogized ; and the minute which I have now essayed to reply to 

 is a fitting conclusion to the former history of all that relates to myself in 

 connexion with the undertaking. In affording me, however, a plea and an 

 occasion to express my sentiments freely, in this matter, I have perhaps no 

 reason to be dissatisfied that it has appeared in the Journal. While confined 

 to a private circulation among the members of the Society, I thought it 

 preferable to remain silent, and spend my time more profitably to the Society 

 than in controversy of any kind ; but now that it has gone forth to Europe 

 and the world, in the pages of the Journal, it becomes incumbent on me to 

 have a due respect for my own reputation, by meeting the charges made 

 against me, as I trust to the satisfaction of the Societ)^. An opposite course 

 would imply my acknowledgment of the justice of the criticism. 



I have the honour to be, 



Gentlemen, 

 Tout's very obediently, 

 E. Blyth. 

 Asiatic Society's Rooms, Sept. 11///-, 1847- 



* For example, how much precious time is here lost in the determination of genera 

 and species, which, with collateral information on the superior groups to which they 

 belong-, may be learned at a glance at the specimens in any well arranged museum of 

 adequate extent, where each branch of Zoology (for instance) has its own particular 

 superintendent. 



7 N 



