xxxiv 
Ajjpendi.r. 
The Imperial Leopold-Caroline German Academy would also 
regret with, no less sorrow than the Uoyal Irish Academy if portions 
of the rich scientific treasures of Paris, which could not be replaced, 
were to be destroyed by the bombardment of that city, as was unfor- 
tunately the case at the bombardment of Strasbourg. Still, as it is 
a German Academy, it cannot place itself on the stand-point of the 
Eoyal Irish Academy, which does not feel itself justified in express- 
ing an opinion on the merits of this pitiful war, and the proceedings 
of both the contending parties. 
That the voice of the Academy of ^Naturalists would have any 
influence whatever with the present holders of power in France cannot 
unfortunately be expected ; and it dare not protest against measures 
which the safety, the independence, and the peace of Germany might 
urgently demand, and what its Fatherland, by the sacrifice of many 
thousands of her sons, is in the act of conquering. 
Should this end be attained without endangering those collec- 
tions, we are persuaded that the leaders of the Germans, who well 
know the value of those accumulated treasures in Paris, and have 
shown, for example, in St. Cloud and Sevres, how very anxious they 
are to preserve collections illustrative of the history of civilization 
even from destruction by their own owners, and who will not bring 
them into danger. It would, therefore, show an unfounded and ofi'en- 
sive mistrust to make such a demand. Besides, a serious danger to 
these collections on the part of the German army would arise only 
from the bombardment of Paris. 
''As long as such a proceeding is looked on by all nations as a justifia- 
ble method of warfare, although it endangers alike the guilty and the 
innocent, the armed and unarmed, a belligerent cannot relinquish it on 
his side alone without violating the highest interests of his Eatherland 
confided to him. 
Should the Royal Irish Academy, however, promise themselves 
success from this trial in generally abolishing, and by the law of nations 
doing away with those and similar means of carrying on war, which 
date from a differently thinking past — such as the robbery of private 
property on the sea the trade of neutrals with belligerents in arms, 
and other contraband of war, as was done with exploding balls for 
small arms — the German Academy would, in such a case, be quite 
ready to support, as far as it could, such an important step in advance. 
'' The President of the Leopold- Caroline German 
Academy of Naturalists, 
