4*4 t he president's secondj Sec, 



judices, the defign of our inftitution. Nor would it be 

 improper hereafter, to give a medal annually, with in- 

 fcriptions in Perfian on one fide, and on the reverfe in 

 Sanfcrit, as the prize of merit, to the writer of the beft 

 effay ordiflertation. To inftrucl; others is the prefcribed 

 duty of learned Brdhmans ; and if they be men of fub- 

 fiance, without reward; but they would all be flattered 

 with an honorary mark of diftin&ion ; and the Maho- 

 medans have not only the permiflion, but the pofitive 

 command of their law-giver, tofearchfor learning even 

 in the remotejl parts of the globe. It were fuperfluous 

 to fuggeft, with how much corre6tnefs and facility their 

 compofitions might be tranflated for our ufe, fince their 

 languages are now more generally and perfectly under- 

 stood than they have ever been by any nation of Eu- 

 rope, 



I have detained you, I fear, too long by this addrefs; 

 though it has been my endeavour to reconcile compre- 

 henfivenefs with brevity. The fubjects, which I have 

 lightly fketched, would be found, if minutely examined, 

 to be inexhauftible; and, fince no limits can be fet to 

 your researches, but the boundaries of Afia itfelf, I may 

 not improperly conclude with wifhing for your Society, 

 what the Commentator on the Laws prays for the con* 

 ftitution of our country, that it may be perpetual. 



XXV. 



