object," i. e. for making a grand collection, but as the things in question are already in the Museum, they are not merely "available" for the object in view, but constitute so much of the object itself already accomplished.

13. The Committee continue," while waiting for these additions to our collection, he," the Curator, "should proceed to label these already in our possession." It is within the recollection of the Society, that I stated eight months ago, that I could do nothing with the geological collection until cabinets were first provided: these were accordingly sanctioned by the Society, but ordered by the Secretary from a native for less than he could afford to provide them for, the consequence is, that they still remain unfinished.* This is an instance of the ill effects of leaving the Curator dependant on the Secretary, or any one else, for things on which his own work depends; and as the circumstance is brought forward rather unfairly in the report of the Committee, I must be permitted to say, that had any member of that body required an easy chair, we may presume he would have obtained it at once, from the best cabinet maker, cost what it might.

14. There is but one name attached to the report which can be at all held responsible in a scientific point of view for the sentiments embodied in it, and although Dr. WALLICH may fairly be exonerated as any great authority on the subject of Museums, yet his own experience ought to have suggested the difficulty of making monthly reports on subjects connected with Natural History, he himself finding a single report too much to accomplish in the five years, that have now elapsed since his return from Assam.

15. From what has taken place on this subject, I have been induced to refer to the rules of various Societies and Museums, in hopes of finding some rules laid down for the duties of Curators. You will doubtless be very much surprised to learn, that though in all cases the duties of Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and Secretaries are strictly laid down in bye-laws, yet Curators alone appear to be the only officers who are left altogether to conduct their duties according to the best of their judgment and acquirements. Were they not the chief authority in all things on which the advancement, arrangement, and preservation of collections of Natural History depend, how could they be held responsible for their charge?

16. The antiquities may be safely left, as far as their "preservation" is concerned, to the "honorary services of the oriental secretary, the librarian, and pundits," but the natural history and geological departments must be left to a naturalist and geologist, for whose services the Society can have no security beyond his own reputation. Nothing could show the necessity of this more than the present attempt to reduce the Curator from that honorable and independent station which he fills in civilized countries, to a state of dependence on the caprice of Committees. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen,

28th Feb. 1840.

Your most obedient servant,

J. M'CLELLAND.

*Here Dr. McClelland is in ignorance of the facts, and consequently makes erroneous statements.-EDS.

The reading of Dr. M'Clelland's letter occasioned much amusement, and called forth some very pointed remarks from the President, Sir Edward Ryan; the Honorable Messrs. H. T. Prinsep and Wilberforce Bird; Mr. Torrens, and others. Messrs. Curnin and Bagshaw suggested that the consideration of the Report be postponed to the next Meeting, but both these gentlemen at the same time disclaimed any defence of the terms and tone of Dr. M'Clelland's letter.

It was than moved by Mr. Bird, seconded by Mr. Piddington, and carried with but two dissentient voices, that the report be adopted, and that the Committee of Papers be empowered to act on the views it contains.*

*We are in possession of accurate reports of the observations made by the speakers on this occasion. We refrain from their insertion from motives which, in all probability, will be thoroughly mistaken by Dr. M'Clelland and his friends.-EDS.

ART. VI.-Meteorological Register, kept at the Surveyor General's Office, Calcutta, for the Month of February, 1840.