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The late Dr, Helfer. 



A discussion having recently been raised regarding the late Dr. 

 Heifer, Col. Hutchinson of the Bengal Engineers, in a warm defence of 

 his late friend remarks, that he cannot but feel assured from the good 

 tone and Christian spirit which has generally marked the Friend of 

 India, the Editor of that Journal will be sorry for having been led 

 into the assertion of any thing that was untrue regarding a most 

 amiable and honorable man, whose zeal and talents were so well 

 known to all who had the pleasure of Dr. Heifer's acquaintance. 



The Friend of India on the other hand remarks, that if led into 

 error in stating the great bulk of Dr. Heifer's collections did not 

 come into possession of the Government at whose expense they were 

 made, he is willing to retract the statement and appeals to public 

 officers and scientific men who must be well acquainted with the 

 circumstances of the case. 



The question as to the disposal of Dr. Heifer's collections is cer- 

 tainly so far as we are competent to judge, not worth disputing 

 about. But if Col. Hutchinson be desirous of arriving at the real 

 value and importance of the collection obtained by Government 

 from Dr. Heifer during the period of his employment in the Tenas- 

 serim provinces, three years we think, he has only to pay a visit to 

 the Museum at the India House. We are greatly mistaken if he will 

 there find the collections of Dr. Heifer which cost the public nearly 

 a lakh of Rupees, are at all equal either in extent or value to many 

 contributions that have been made at little or no expense by several 

 members of the Public Service in India, who have been less fortunate 

 on the score of patronage than Dr. Heifer. 



That Dr. Heifer was an amiable and accomplished man we allow, 

 that he was in any way scientific, or possessed of a single qualification 

 for the duties on which he was deputed to the Tenasserim Provinces, 

 beyond a moderate share of zeal and energy under privations to 

 which he seemed to have been accustomed, we cannot allow. 



So long as persons of rank and influence will take upon themselves 

 to patronise things they do not understand, instances such as that of 

 Dr. Heifer will not be uncommon. What could Col. Hutchinson 

 possibly know of Dr. Heifer's qualifications as a Naturalist ? And yet 

 he not only appears to have ventured to judge for himself on this 

 point, but to have exerted himself in influencing the judgment of 

 others. " In requesting you to use the means of your valuable paper 

 in his behalf, it was not as you say to put bread into his mouth, but 

 simply to draw the attention of Government to Dr. Heifer's scientific 



