22 Anmml Beport. ([Feb., 



Conversazione. 



The Society gave a Conversazione on March 6th in its rooms in Park 

 Street, which was largely attended and was a great success. H. E. tlie 

 Viceroy, the Patron of the Society, honoured the Society with his presence 

 and many objects of scientific and literary interest were exhibited. The 

 thanks of the Society are due to Sir Ashley Eden, the President, who 

 generously defrayed all the expenses connected with the Conversazione : 

 and to those gentlemen, members and others, who contributed to its success 

 by the loan of objects of interest and in other ways. 



Library. 



A large number of additions has been made to the Library during the 

 past year, the total number of volumes or parts of volumes being 2,362, of 

 which 1,439 were presented or received in exchange for the Society's publi- 

 cations and 923 were purchased. 



The Council have to express their regret that fresh difficulties have 

 occurred to delay tlie publication of the Catalogue, so long looked forward 

 to. The Britannia Press, to which the work had been entrusted, proved 

 unable to carry it out according to the contract. The irregularity in the 

 submission of proofs proved so serious that the Council decided to with- 

 draw the work from this Press, and have made arrangements with the 

 Caledonian Press which there is every reason to hope will lead to more 

 satisfactory results. One hundred and sixty pages had already been print- 

 ed off : but in order to secure uniformity and an improved style, the 

 Council has instructed the Caledonian Press to print the whole from the 

 beginning, and it is hoped that the work will be completed in 4 or 5 

 months. This delay in the publication of the Catalogue, the want of which 

 is so seriously felt, is a cause of great regret to the Council, but it is due 

 to circumstances which it was impossible to foresee. 



The Munshi engaged to catalogue the Arabic and Persian books and 

 MSS. made so little progress in his work that the Council were obliged to 

 dispense with his services, and are now making arrangements for engaging 

 more efficient assistance. 



Publications. 



The second part of Moore's " Descriptions of New Indian Lepldop- 

 tera" was received from England in June, and has now been distributed to 

 the members. This part contains 111 pages of quarto letter press and 2 



plates. 



Four Nos. of Part I, and 3 of Part 11, of the Journal were published 

 during the year containing 229 and QQ pages of letter press and 15 and 

 3 plates respectively : also Extra No. to the Journal; Part I, for 1&82, 



