1897.] mection of Members. 51 



being permitted, at the end of my Indian career, to preside over a 

 Society which holds such a distinguished place in the learned world, of 

 which I am now one of the oldest resident European members, and 

 which I have had the honour and the pleasure of serving as Philological 

 Secretary for a long term of years. For, looking back on the years 

 passed, I may truly say that my labours for the Society have been a 

 pleasure to me, a relief amidst the drudgery of the- ordinary Indian life, 

 A very distinguished member of the Society, Horace Hayman Wilson, 

 once said with regard to his own labours for the Society that they had. 

 made many hours of leisure in this country slip happily away. To have 

 many hours of leisure for scientific work is an experience which I fear 

 is not given to any of us in these days of professional work under high 

 pressure. To me that will always be one of the sad reminiscences of 

 this " land of regrets." However, it is a comfort to know that the 

 prosperity of the Society depends not so much on its President, as on its 

 Secretaries and other officers ; and I feel sure, that I may rely on their 

 ■extending to me the same measure of hearty co-operation with which 

 they have supported my able predecessors during their terms of office. 

 I would, therefore, now ask you to pass a cordial vote of thanks to the 

 retiring President, the Yice-Presidents, the Secretaries and the Council, 

 who, in the past year, have given so ungrudgingly their time and 

 strength to the conduct of the affairs of the Society.'* 



The vote of thanks was carried unanimously. 

 The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. 

 Fifty-three presentations were announced, details of which are given 

 in' the Library List appended. 



The following gentlemen duly proposed and seconded at the last 

 Meeting of the Society were ballotted for and elected Ordinary 

 Members : — 



Walter Weber, Esq. 

 Dr. Th. Bloch. 

 H. H. Hayden, Esq. 

 0. W. Peake, Esq. 

 The following gentlemen have expressed a wish to withdraw from 

 the Society : — 



Babu Peary Mohan Roy. 

 A. F. M. Abdur Rahman, Esq. 

 In accordance with Council order, the names of the following cor- 

 responding Members have been struck off from the list of Members : — 

 The Rev. J. Porter. 

 A. Murray, Esq. 

 Dr. J. Macgowan, 



