1876.] designation of tlie President 71 



The CHAiEMAisr said that he had to inform the meeting that in conse- 

 quence of the departure from India of their esteemed and valued President, 

 Dr. Thomas Oldham, the Council of the Society had considered it their 

 duty to record their unfeigned regret at the great loss which the Society 

 thus sustained by Dr. Oldham's departui-e on the severance of his connection 

 with the Government service in this country. He was sure that the feel- 

 ings and sentiments which unanimously actuated the Council would be 

 shared in by the Meeting and the Society at large, and as this was the last 

 occasion on which *an opportunity would present itself of considering the 

 late President's long and valuable services, he felt great pleasure in thus 

 prominently bringing before them, the mperfect tribute to Dr. Oldham 

 which the Resolution of the Council attempted to convey. The Resolution 

 was as follows : 



Resolved that the Council of the Asiatic Society record the feeling of 

 unfeigned regret with which they accept Dr. Oldham's resignation of the 

 post of President, a regret intensified by the disappointment of the earnest 

 anticipations and hopes of the Council that Dr. Oldham's recent visit to 

 Europe woiild have given him renewed strength and vigour, and have enabled 

 him to pursue his eminently useful career in this country for some time 

 longer. 



The Council cannot permit Dr. Oldham to leave them without an 

 expression of their grateful recognition of his unceasing exertions to forward 

 the interests and promote the welfare of the Society throughout the 25 

 years of his Membership during which time he has been a Member of the 

 Council for 14 years and four times President. 



The Council have at least the one source of gratification that Dr. Old- 

 ham has remained with them long enough to see the accomplishment of 

 one of the objects for which he has striven on behalf of the Society so long 

 and so earnestly, and by which the financial condition of the Society is 

 placed upon a permanently sound and prosperous basis and its power of 

 usefulness. vastly increased. 



The Council trust that the change of climate Dr. Oldham is now com- 

 pelled to seek will prove thoroughly beneficial and that, though from a dis- 

 tance, they may still have for many years to come the benefit of the counsels 

 and assistance they have learned to appreciate so fully. 



Colonel TnuiLLiER said, in recording these sentiments Dr. Oldham's 

 old colleagues of the Council had only performed a grateful duty, which it 

 was believed would meet with the most bearty response from the Society, 

 on behalf of which he most cordially and sincerely bid Dr. Oldham farewell 

 with every good wish for renewed lu'alth and continued usefulness and 

 prosperity in his native country. 



