56 Annotmcement hy the President. ^ " [May, 



ment in 1857 and 1858, for by that proposal " the whole of the Society's 

 collections, except the Library," would have been transferred to the 

 Imperial Museum. The Library was the only collection excepted ; hence 

 all the Society's own pictures and the "Home Bequest" (without 

 distinction of originals and copies) would have passed out of the 

 Society's custody. The Indian Museum however was not large enough 

 for all that was advocated ; and only the Archaeological and Natural 

 History collections were given away. The department that would have 

 provided for Art was omitted, and our Art collection was not transferred. 

 We may feel sure that in making this loan to the Victoria Hall we shall 

 be furthering one at least of the objects which the Society had at heart, 

 when pressed so earnestly for the establishment of the Indian Museum, 

 and gave so freely of its own treasures to be of public use there. 



The Council wishes it to be understood and recorded that the 

 objects selected are not given away. They will remain the property 

 of the Society, and the arrangement is a loan ; for the scheme of the 

 Memorial Hall is not to gain the ownership of all the objects con- 

 templated, but to collect and place on public exhibition objects of the 

 highest interest, which are now scattered about and lost to general 

 knowledge. Furthermore, the Council can place this arrangement on 

 record in this building by setting up a tablet to this effect in this, the 

 general meeting-room. 



I may further mention that the proposal to lend these objects 

 enables the Society to render to the public some acknowledgment of 

 the munificent encouragement which it has received from the State 

 through a very long series of years. It is well-known to all members 

 that the Society receives liberal pecuniary grants from the Govern- 

 ment annually, and that without such aid the Society would have 

 found it very difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish all that it has 

 actually undertaken. The present Viceroy has evinced special interest 

 in the Society, and has recently made a most generous grant for the 

 repair and improvement of this building. 



The Council therefore make this announcement to the members 

 in the expectation, that they will unanimously unite with it in taking 

 advantage of the present unique and graceful opportunity, that they 

 will declare their appreciation of the Victoria Memorial Scheme and of 

 the noble part offered to the Society in a building that is destined to 

 become the National Gallery of India, and that they will also associate 

 themselves with the State, with other public bodies, and with large- 

 hearted individuals, in lending some of the Society's treasures to com- 

 plete and adorn the Memorial Hall, and thereby to extend the fame of 

 its own most illustrious members. 



