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ADDRESS.

"To HIS EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HON'BLE SIR

JOHN LAIRD MAIR LAWRENCE, BART., G. c. B., K. 8. I.,

Her Majesty's Viceroy and Governor-General of India.

"On the part of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, we, its President and Members, respectfully solicit that your Excellency will be pleased to accept the office of patron of the Society.

"Founded in 1784, by Sir William Jones, the Asiatic Society has, for 80 years, devoted its labours to the advancement of Asiatic science, whether that science be the record of the works of man, or the investigation of the phenomena and laws of nature. The history, literature and philosophy of India, the laws and customs of its people, the architecture of its ancient cities, and the languages and dialects of its numerous races of past and present time, have been largely recorded and elucidated by the labours of the many eminent men whom the Society has been proud to enroll as its members. On the other hand, the geography and physical structure of India and Southern Asia, the Fauna and Flora of this and neighbouring countries, their climatal phenomena and the physical laws of nature, to a knowledge of which modern civilization is so largely indebted, have equally been objects of the studious researches of the Society, and the numerous volumes of its publications, and the large and valuable collections in its museum, amply testify to the zeal and skill with which these objects have been pursued.

"Furthermore in all questions bearing on the material progress of this country, the Asiatic Society has ever taken an active interest, and much valuable information on the mineral resources of India, on the geography and people of the frontiers, on the practicability of new trade routes, and similar matters directly affecting the wealth or intelligence of the country, has been amassed and recorded in the researches and journals of the Society.

"To the co-operation of the Indian Government and the enlightened appreciation and sympathy of your Excellency's predecessors, the Governors-General and Viceroys of India, the Society has been in no small degree indebted for that measure of success which has attended its labours. The establishment of the geodesical, geological and

hydrographic surveys of India, and of botanic gardens under the superintendence of a series of able and accomplished men of science, the formation of an Oriental fund for the publication and diffusion of ancient Indian literature, the appointment of a Government archæologist, and the grant of pecuniary aid which the Asiatic Society has for many years past received from Government for the support and extension of its museum, bear ample witness both to the independent and co-operative action of Government in furthering those objects, for the advancement of which the Society was originally founded. The contemplated transfer of the Society's collections to Government as the nucleus of an imperial museum, and the measures now pending for a more general and systematic registration of meteorological observations, are further actual evidence of a similar enlightened disposition, and in your Excellency's acceptance of the office of its patron, the Society will receive an assurance that under your Excellency's rule, the advancement of science in its widest sense, the rescue from oblivion of the records of the past, the observation and orderly co-ordination of actual phenomena under the influence of human thought, and the wider diffusion of the embodied results of human experience for the instruction of the future, will not less than heretofore be deemed worthy objects of an enlightened and progressive Government."

HIS EXCELLENCY'S REPLY.

"TO THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL.

“GENTLEMEN,—“I accept with pleasure the office of patron of the Asiatic Society of Bengal; and I can assure you of my earnest desire to do all that I legitimately can, for the furtherance of the important objects which the Society has at heart.

"I have perused with much interest the statement embodied in the address just presented, regarding the results already accomplished by the Society, and the ends towards which it is still striving. I am persuaded that the Society's operations are well worthy of cooperation and encouragement on the part of the Government in this country, in that they foster those scientific studies which practically conduce to civilization, and to material progress; while on the other hand, they effect great moral good by guarding the valuable

associations of the past; and by keeping alive our sympathies with the Oriental mind and character. Thus it is, that the work of your Society conduces both to European and to Native interests in India, and tends to strengthen the bonds of union between the rulers and the people.

"I trust, gentlemen, that we may preserve the memories and traditions of the great and good men who have adorned this Society during the eighty years of its existence, and that the example of their learning and wisdom may animate and inspirit us in our efforts for the future. "I beg that you will receive the expression of my best wishes for the continued success and prosperity of the Asiatic Society of Bengal." (Signed) "JOHN LAWRENCE."

Calcutta, 8th February, 1864.

Letters from Messrs. H. Stainforth, A. M. Monteath, Captain J. Davidson and Major A. D. Dickens, announcing their withdrawal from the Society were recorded.

The following gentlemen duly proposed at the last meeting were balloted for and elected ordinary members:

H. R. Spearman, Esq.; C. J. Wilkinson, Esq.; F. A. Pellew, Esq., c. s.; Baboo Jagadánund Mookerjee; Lieutenant E. A. Trevor, Dr. W. J. Palmer and Lieutenant G. M. Bowie.

The following gentlemen were named for ballot as ordinary members at the next meeting:

J. L. Stewart, Esq., M. D., Assistant Surgeon, Lahore,-proposed by the President, and seconded by Mr. H. F. Blanford.

Professor H. Blochmann,-proposed by Captain Lees, and seconded by Mr. H. F. Blanford.

The Rev. W. G. Cowie, Domestic Chaplain to the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Calcutta, proposed by the Bishop, and seconded by the Rev. M. D. C. Walters.

The Hon'ble Maharaja Mirza Vijaya-rám Gajapati Raz, Munniam Sultan Bahadur of Vizianagram,-proposed by Rajah Sutto Shurn Ghosal Bahadoor, and seconded by Moulvi Abdool Luteef Khan Bahadoor.

Communications were received

1. From R. H. Barnes, Esq., abstract of the meteorological observations taken at Gangarowa near Kandy, in Ceylon, for July and August, 1863.

2. From Baboo Gopeenauth Sen, an abstract of the results of the hourly meteorological observations taken at the Surveyor General's Office, Calcutta, for December last.

3. From the Punjab Auxiliary Committee to the Asiatic Society, through Dr. A. Neil, the following papers—

I. On the geological features, &c., of the country in the neighbourhood of Bunnoo and the sanitarium of Shaikh Boodeen.

II. Extract from a report by Captain H. Mackenzie on the antiquities of Guzerat.

III. Inscription on the Dharian Baolee,

IV. Inscription on the Mugbura at Hailan.

V. Illustrated table of coins occurring in the bazars of the district.

4. From Lieutenant-Colonel R. C. Tytler, through Mr. Grote, observations on a few species of Geckos alive in his possession.

Baboo Rajendra Lal Mitra then read his paper on the Buddhist remains of Sultangunge.

The paper having been read, a vote of thanks was passed to the Baboo for his interesting remarks.

In consequence of the lateness of the hour, the paper on the antiquities of Guzerat by Captain Mackenzie was not read.

The meeting was then made special, pursuant to notice, in order to decide upon the proposition of the Council, relative to the transfer of the Society's museum to Government.

The Chairman reported to the meeting, that in accordance with a vote passed at the ordinary monthly meeting in January last, the correspondence with Government on the subject of the transfer of the museum had been circulated to non-resident members, and their votes taken on the following proposition :

"That the Council be authorized to enter into definite and conclusive arrangements with the Government of India, relative to the proposed transfer of the Society's museum, in accordance with the terms of the correspondence."

The result was

For the proposition, 73.

Against, 1.

Majority in favor of transfer, 72.

The proposition was then put to the vote of the meeting by the Chairman, and the votes were found to be as follows:

For the transfer 17.

Against, none.

The sum of the votes of resident and non-resident members were

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The monthly general meeting of the Asiatic Society of Bengal was held on the 6th instant.

A. Grote, Esq., in the chair.

The proceedings of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
Presentations were announced-

1. From his Highness Prince Gholam Mohammad, a copy of "Blagdon's History of India," and a copy of his revision of a work entitled "The History of Hyder Shah and of his Son Tippoo Sultan," with a framed portrait of his father, Tippoo Sultan.

2. From the editor of the Calcutta Christian Intelligencer, the three first numbers of his magazine for 1864.

3. From Captain C. Mead, Royal Artillery, through Baboo Rajendra Lal Mitra, a stone slab from Buddha Gaya bearing a Sanscrit inscription.

4. From Major H. Raban, ear-rings worn by a Rengmah Naga chief, being made of the hair of three enemies of the Angami Naga tribe, killed in fight.

5. From Col. J. C. Brooke, specimens of minerals from the Aravalli Mountains.

6. From Dr. Anderson, two botanical and some zoological pamphlets.

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