cxlii Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XIII, 



fie aim subordinated to the practical and the subjects treated 

 of as incidental to the consideration of practical arts like Men- 

 suration or Judicial Astrology." I am not quite clear as to 



what Judicial Astrology is, but we shall doubtless agree that it 

 is not pure science. 



I was particularly anxious that t he Congress should meet 

 in Bangalore in order to give its members the opportunity of 

 becoming acquainted with the Indian Institute of Science, that 

 they might see for themselves what has been so far the outcome 

 of Mr. J. N. Tata's unique beneficent intention and what 



immense 



follow his excellent example. 



Unfortunately, the Institute itself is not a suitable place for 

 the holding of our meetings owing to the lack of sufficient 

 accommodation for visitors on the spot and the difficulties of 

 transit to and fro. It is, however, an ill wind that blows no one 

 any good, and as things are we have the pleasure of accepting 

 the hospitality of His Highness' Government and of seeing at 



so well 



termed go-ahead State for the teaching and practice of science. 



mi ^ h ^ 1S the fourth mee ting of this Congress, and I think you 

 will all join me in congratulating those who have worked so 

 hard to bring such a Congress into being. Although Dr. 

 kimonsen of Madras and Mr. MacMahon of Lucknow are per- 

 haps responsible for its conception, the Congress has hitherto 

 tound a complaisant foster-father in the old established Asiatic 

 bociety of Bengal , and it may become permanently established 

 as a peripatetic form of activity of that Society. That Society 

 began life under the auspices of Sir William Jones, and he wise- 

 ly urged at its inaugural meeting that there should be no rules, 

 and tor a long time there were no rules and the Society 

 Nourished without them. There is, however, little doubt that 

 ne made what were virtually rules, although not so-called, as 

 occasion required. A founder may do this but every Society that 

 persists beyond the time of its founder finds the need for some 

 rules however few and simple. This Congress has managed 

 tamy well up to now without anv, but one of the matters which 

 win be brought before you at the present meeting will be the 

 oesiraoility of some simple constitution. We are indeed to 

 have a discussion with regard to its future, and I venture in the 



?,nl P A aC n ° ffer a £ew comments and suggestions bearing 

 upon the Congress. feS 



th^ V^^l t0 Which the Con gress most nearly corresponds is 

 an ™^nf f Assoc / atlon f °r the Advancement of Science. Such 

 Bacon^ Tk 10n u° Und its P lace in the Salomon's House ot 

 fSSZ^J^!"\ thev had " Circuites or Visits of Diver- 

 msse P wl i S S.S* Ki "g d( >«>e. wher, as it commeth to 

 Ee *ood ™ SUCh NeW Profifcable Inventions, as wee 



