THE HON. EAST INDIA COMPANY. 329 
their respective pursuits; and Reports are drawn 
up by each, of the progress made in any particular 
branch of knowledge during the past year. _ The 
greatest hospitality is generally shown by such 
members as are resident, to those who come from 
a distance; speeches are made, toasts are drunk; 
and we can only regret the fate of those, who, from 
professional or other pursuits, have not the power 
of making so long an absence from home, and of 
sharing the intellectual and social pleasures of such» 
instructive and ‘pleasurable meetings.* 
(232.) Having now dwelt at some length upon 
those aids and encouragements to science which 
emanate from public societies and institutes formed 
for that express purpose, we must be allowed to 
advert to another association, whose objects, indeed, 
are commercial, but whose patronage of science in 
all that relates to the civil and natural history of 
Asia is without parallel, and entitles THz Honour- 
ABLE COMPANY OF MERCHANTS TRADING TO 
THE East InpiEs not only to a place among the 
scientific institutions of this empire, but to rank 
with the first and foremost of those in Europe. We 
here look to this Company only in its connection 
* This association originated in a suggestion of Sir David 
Brewster, who also took an active part in its subsequent or- 
ganisation. Science is also indebted largely for its success to the 
unwearied zeal and incessant exertions of the Hon. and Rev. 
Vernon Harcourt, its general secretary, without whose aid it could 
scarcely have emerged from its infancy. It would be invidious 
to select for especial notice the names of other members, where 
sO many are conspicuous; nevertheless we cannot omit that of 
Mr. Phillips, of York, the assistant secretary. — En. 
