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 ASIATIC SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. 



The first general meeting of this Society was held on the 

 15th of March at the Thatched House, St. James's street. 

 — Henry Thomas Colebrooke, Esq. having been called to the 

 chair, announced that His Majesty had been graciously pleased 

 to become Patrpn of the Society ; and that the Marquis Welles- 

 ley, the Marquis of Hasthigs, and the President of the Board of 

 Commissioners for the Affairs of India, were nominated Vice- 

 Patrons ; also, that the number of members already exceeded 

 three hundred. 



The following members were elected to form the Council; 

 viz. 



Duke of Somerset ; Duke of Buckingham ; Marquis of 

 Lansdowne ; Earl of Aberdeen ; Right Hon. C. W. Wynn ; 

 Right Hon. Sir G. Ouseley, Bart. ; Right Hon. .lohn Sulli- 

 van ; Sir G. T. Staunton, Bart. ; Sir E. H. East, Bavt. ; Sir 

 J. Malcohn, G.C.B. ; Sir A. Johnston, Knt. ; Sir J. Mackin- 

 tosh, Knt. ; James Alexander, Esq. ; John Barrow, Esq. ; 

 H. T. Colebrooke, Esq. ; Colonel F. H. Doyle ; Colonel C. 

 J. Doyle ; N. B. Edmonstone, Esq. ; John Fleming, Esq. ; 

 Captain Henry Kater ; Andrew Macklew, Esq. ; Wm. Mars- 

 den, Esq.; G' H. Noehden, LL.D. ; Colonel Mark Wilks; 

 Charles Wilkins, Esq. 



And the following were chosen Officers of the Society; viz. 



Presidmt. — The Right Hon. Charles Williams Wynn. 



Director. — Henry I'homas Colebrooke, Esq. 



Vice-Presidents. — Sir Geo. Tho. Staunton, Bart. ; Sir John 

 Malcolm, G.C.B. ; Sir Alex. Johnston, Knt.; Col. Mark 

 Wilks. 



Treasurer. — James Alexander, Esq. 



Seaetary. — George Henry Noehden, l^L.D. 



The following interesting address was then delivered by 

 Mr. Colebrooke : 



" Called by the indulgence of this meeting to a chair, which 

 I could have wished to have seen more worthily filled, upon 

 so interesting an occasion, as the first general meeting of a 

 Society instituted for the important purpose of the advancement 

 of kno-d)lcdge in relation to Asia, I shall, with your permission, 

 detain you a little from the special business of the day, while I 

 draw your more particular attention to the objects of the insti- 

 tution, for the furtherance of which we are now assembled. 



" To those countries of Asia, in which civilization may be 

 justly considered to have had its origin, or to have attained 

 its earliest growth, the rest of tho civilized world owes a large 

 debt of gratitude, which it cannot but be solicitous to repay : 



Vol. 61. No. SOO. .Ipril 1R2:}. Q (j and 



