2 Lord Lansdoivne accepts office of Patron. [Jan. 



The President said : I have much pleasure in announcing that His 

 Excellency the Viceroy has been graciously pleased to accept the office 

 of Patron of the Society. The following is the letter received from the 

 Private Secretary to His Excellency, in reply to the invitation of the 

 Council. 



Government House. 



Calcutta, 1st January 1889. 

 Sie, 



I am desired by His Excellency the Marquess of Lansdowne to 

 acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ultimo, and to request 

 you to inform the Council of the Asiatic Society of Bengal that the 

 Viceroy accedes with much pleasure to the desire of the Society that he 

 should accept the office of Patron in succession to the Marquess of 

 Dufferin and Ava. 



His Excellency has long been aware of the services which your 

 Society has rendered to Oriental research, and the illustrious names 

 which adorn its rolls are familiar to him. 



The Viceroy trusts that the future career of the Society may be 

 worthy of the eminent position which it has maintained during the past 

 hundred years under his predecessors. 



I have the honor to be, &c, 



J. C. Ardagh. 



The President announced that the Photographic Society of India 

 had offered the use of their reading-room and dark room at 29 

 Chowringhee to any Members of the Asiatic Society who may be inter- 

 ested in Photography. The rooms are open from 6 A. M. to 10 p. m. 

 and the latest photographic news-papers and publications will be 

 found on the tables. 



The President also intimated the resignation of Mr. Percival, and 

 said — 



It is with considerable regret that I have to announce that Mr. 

 H. M. Percival has been obliged to resign the arduous office of General 

 Secretary on account of bad health and pressure of work. Mr. Percival 

 has held the office since 1886 and has carried on the work with very 

 commendable efficiency. I am sure he will have our very cordial thanks 

 for the work he has -done for us so long, and our sympathy in the circum- 

 stances which have caused him to give it up. I propose, therefore, that 

 we record a formal vote to that effect. 



The proposal, seconded by Mr. E. T. Atkinson, was carried unani- 

 mously. 



The President added that he was pleased to say that Mr. C. Little, 



