56 Letters from Mr. Thomas and D. S. Somanatyssa. [April, 



The following are candidates for ballot at the next meeting, — 



W. Heilgers, Esq., proposed by Dr. F. Stoliczka, seconded by Mr. D. 

 Waldie. 



Babu Mahimachandra Chakravarti, Barnagore, proposed by Mr. H. 

 Blochmann, seconded by Babu Rajendi^alala Mitra. 



Babu Niranjan Mulierji, Banaras, proposed by Babu Rajendralala Mitra, 

 seconded by Mr. H. Blochmann. 



The Council reported that they have elected Sir E. Couch a member of 

 Council and Vice-President, in place of the Hon'ble J. B. Phear, leaving 

 India. 



Col. J. E. Gastrell has been elected a Trustee of the Indian Museum, 

 during the presidency of Dr. T. Oldliam, Superintendent Geological Survey 

 of India, and Treasurer of the Society, ui place of Col. Tennant, proceeding 

 to Europe. 



The Council further recommended that Mr. G. B. Aiiy, the Astronomer 

 Boyal, and President of the Royal Society, be elected an Honorary Member 

 of the Society. 



In recommending this election, the Council do not deem it necessary to 

 enter into the details of Professor Airy's numerous and most valuable con- 

 tributions to Science, extending over nearly half a century, but merely to 

 draw the attention to the great influence which his labours have had upon 

 the progress of Physic and Astronomy. The ballot will take place at the 

 next meeting of the Society. 



At the recommendation of the Philological Committee, the Council have 

 sanctioned the publication of the Akbarnamah in the Bibliotheca Indica, Per- 

 sian Series, 



The following extract from a letter by Mr. Thomas, addressed to E. C. 

 !Payley, Esq., C. S. I., was read : 



" We have found amongst Elliot's papers a most interesting account 

 of the buildings and water works of Jerusalem of Na9ir bin Khusrau (A. D. 

 1045). As we cannot use this in the Indian Histoiy, Dow^son is to edit the 

 work in a separate volume. The man is most precise in his description and 

 had we known of the existence of Capt. Toler's (?) translation, we might 

 have saved the Palestine exploration people some digging." 



The following letter from D. S. Somanatyssa, Chief Priest of the 

 Parana Nanda Temple, Galle, Ceylon, has been communicated by Mr. E. C. 

 Bayley— 



' I regret very much that I have not been able to acknowledge earlier 

 the safe receipt of all the catalogues of Sanskrit works which you have the 

 kindness to remit to me occasionally. I am very much obliged to you for 



