162 



On East Indian Isinglass. 



From 14th March 1840, when we transferred the article 

 to our agents, Messrs. Cantor and Co., we left every thing 

 connected with its shipment and sale on our account to that 

 firm. It is due, however, to the liberality of H. M. Low, Esq. 

 one of the partners in the late firm, to say, that he offered 

 to take the risk of the investment on himself, and to repay 

 to us the 3,086:6:0 Rs. which it had then cost us. This 

 very kind and liberal offer of Mr. Low, we considered it 

 our duty to decline. The experiment was undertaken with 

 a public view, and any private arrangement, such as that 

 proposed, we conceived might alter the character of the 

 transaction, as far as we were individually concerned. 



The sample of Isinglass therefore which Dr. Royle states, 

 page 31 in his pamphlet, to have been the first received at the 

 India House, and which was sent to him on the 30th October 

 1840, by Mr. Cantor, with a note, stating that it was a speci- 

 men of a consignment sent by his house in Calcutta, belong- 

 ed to, and formed a part of that which was prepared by us, 

 and sent at our own expence and risk through Messrs. 

 Cantor and Co., to the London market for trial, consisting 

 as already stated, of 2,235 lbs. 



Whether the specimens subsequently presented by Messrs. 

 Rogers and Remfrey, and alluded to, page 31, in Dr. 

 Royle's pamphlet were derived from our stock, is of little 

 consequence, as the public sale at which the 2,235 lbs. were 

 disposed off, took place on the 2nd of November, only three 

 days after the first specimen had been received at the 

 India House. 



We have been thus particular in stating the circumstances 

 and views under which the first investment of Isinglass sent 

 from India to the European market was made, because we 

 regard the subject of very great importance, and are de- 

 sirous of placing the facts connected with it in as clear a 

 light as possible. 



The only other person besides ourselves, who took any 



