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 The Honour- 

 able Company of Merchants trading to 

 the East Indies 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. — Ed. 



