JACK'S LETTERS TO WALLICH, 1819-1821. 187 



says he would wish to go hand in hand with it, if the delays are 

 not too great. I think you told me there were two vols, in hand 

 or in the press : are they filled up, and when is another likely to 

 come forth? There are description of some animals, for instance 

 the Dugong, which would be worthy of a place there. Diard told 

 Sir S. that he heard that a description of the Tapir of Malacca 

 from Major Farquhar was to appear in one of the present vols. 141 

 That description is not only imperfect but inaccurate, and as 

 we have a better account of the same animal belonging to Sumatra, 

 it would be a pity that a less accurate paper should occupy the 

 pages of the Asiatic Researches. Sir S. I believe would be glad 

 to know how the case actually stands, and whether the Secretary 

 would like to insert his account in preference. He will probably 

 write on this subject to you or Mr. Wilson. 142 



It is intended also to have all the Frenchmen's descriptions 

 of animals &c. printed, in order to prevent being inundated with 



flummery. I believe, they are to be engaged to put 



them all into latin, by which they will become, not only more 

 concise, but more generally available. I have said Very little to 

 you, I believe, about the Frenchmen, and as they are good friends 

 of yours, you will perhaps wisli to know something about them, 

 the estimation in which they stand, and what they are doing. 

 Between ourselves then, I believe they are estimated "a peu pres 

 a leur propre valeur " and you know pretty well what that amounts 

 to. They have been the source of not a little amusement to us 

 during our voyages, when there was not much to occupy us 



You may easily conceive how they fared 



against a long head like Sir S., and a hard one 



like Crossly, who to good abilities joins a bluntness more than 

 usual even among Englishmen. I must however give them a great 

 deal of credit of having preserved a good deal of temper through- 

 out, probably they knew well enough that the contrary would be 

 to no purpose. In regard to their labours, they have unquestion- 

 ably been very industrious in making their collections, nor do 

 they spare their personal fatigue. The number of birds and 

 animals that they have prepared is very great. — I must let you 

 know the footing on which Sir S. supports them, which will ex- 

 plain to you the reasons for my taking no part in the Zoological 

 affairs. 



I believe his plan is to employ them in making the collec- 

 tions on the public account, that is to say, that they engage to 

 give the whole fruits of their labours without reservation to be 

 at Sir S's. disposal, in return for which he is to defray their ex- 

 penses. They are glad to make this bargain, as their own funds 



141. This appeared in the Askiticl* Researches, XIII, 1820, p. 417. 



142. Dr. Horace Hayman Wilson (1784-1860), Secretary of the 

 Asiatic Society 1815-1832, the Sanskrit Scholar, and historian. 



R. A. Soc, No. 73. 1916. 



