1892.] Address. 35 



years has been Us. 3,840, or Rs. 330 less than during the previous four 

 years. As the strictest economy lias been practised whenever possible, 

 advantage was taken of the opportunity given by the resignation of Mr. 

 Ronaldson to work with a reduced staff, so that the salary bill for the 

 past year has been much less than at any time in the previous 

 ten years. The whole expenditure under this head in 1891 is Rs. 3,138, 

 or more than a thousand rupees less than the average for the years 1882 

 to 1885. 



Thus during these past six years there has been, in comparison 

 with the previous four, a considerable saving on Part I of the Journal, 

 and in salaries. It appears that the low balance in 1890 was chiefly 

 caused by the expenditure on Part II of the Journal. Between the 

 years 1879 and 1885 the balance at credit of the Society varied between 

 Rs. 1,42,000 and Rs. 1,45,000, but since the latter year it has exceeded 

 Rs. 1,42,000 in 1887 only. In 1888 it was Rs. 1,38,032, and in 1890 

 Rs. 1,37,611. Owing to the careful economy practised by the Council 

 during the past year, the balance is now nearly Rs. 1,41,000, and there is 

 every prospect of a further increase. The opportunity should now be taken 

 to revert to the rule that all entrance fees should be added to 

 the permanent investment instead of to the cash balance ; and as there 

 is no longer any urgent reason for keeping the staff on its present 

 reduced footing, the permanent appointment of an Assistant Secretary 

 may now be taken into consideration. 



The financial history of the Oriental Publication Fund 



during the past ten years is altogether dif- 

 tionrSnd PubliCa " ferent from that of the Society. Up to 



1884 the credit-balance was steadily increasing 

 by variable amounts of from two to five thousand rupees a year, 

 the number of fasciculi produced annually at that time being on 

 an average about 21. In 1884 the balance was over Rs. 21,000, and 

 it then became evident that the rate of publication must be 

 increased. A larger number of Sanskrit and Persian works was 

 taken up for publication, with the result that the balance diminished 

 by about Rs. 4,000 a year, and was practically exhausted at the end of 

 1890. The number of fasciculi published reached a maximum in 1888, 

 when it stood at 58. It became apparent, however, during the past two 

 years that the machinery thus set in motion would continue to work 

 longer than was desirable, and measures have been adopted by the 

 Council, especially during the past year, to limit the publication to the 

 normal number, that is, to the number which can be paid for from the 

 yearly income. Not only has no new work been undertaken, but the less 

 important work already in hand has been suspended. The full effect of 



