1834.] Asiatic Society. 51 



such, while the burden falls upon their more regular brethren. The contributions of 

 eighty members (without entrance fees) would be 5 120, whereas only 3900 were collect- 

 ed ; and in this sum is included 302 rupees, from the Right Honorable the Governor 

 General, the Patron of the Society, who, contrary to former precedents, has liberally 

 directed that he should be charged as an ordinary paying member. The Society is aware 

 that an endeavour has been made, though it is not yet matured, to introduce the op- 

 tion of compounding for the cmarterly subscriptions, and I cannot but anticipate that 

 this measure, if adopted, will prove more productive to our finances, and more con- 

 venient and agreeable to most of the members. It will also save the expence and 

 delay of collection. 



It has been my desire to lessen in some degree the burthen to paying members, 

 by distributing the Journal gratis to them during the past year : the result has not 

 proved so encouraging as I could have wished, but with some modification I hope 

 still to be able to continue the measure. 



Of the subscription for Mr. H. H. Wilson's Bust, Its. 1080 have been collected 

 and remitted to that gentleman : no intimation has been yet received of the probable 

 cost of the bust. 



Although it has not been thought prudent to commence a new volume of Resear- 

 ches, or even the printing of the Index of the 18 volumes, sanctioned by the Com- 

 mittee of Papers, the press has not been idle, and T have the pleasure to lay on 

 thetable a copy just completed of M. Csoma de Koros' Tibetan Dictionary, printed 

 at the expence of Government, and under the auspices of the Society, as reported on 

 the 20th Feb. last. M. Csoma's Grammar will now he put in hand, and the whole 

 completed in the course of the present spring. 



The plan of increasing the museum has remained uncompleted for the want of 

 means, as the rooms on the ground-floor cannot be adapted to the purpose without 

 terracing them anew and enclosing the arched openings to the north. Mr. Pear- 

 son was induced to accept the office of gratuitous Curator in the month of July last, 

 and an assistant curator had been brought on the strength of the establishment some 

 months previously, who has been employed in cleaning and preserving the objects 

 now in our cabinets. But it must be obvious that this branch of the Society can- 

 not flourish, while those who might be expected to cherish and support it are con- 

 stantly engaged in other duties and reside at too great a distance even to pay the 

 rooms an occasional visit. One new cabinet has been constructed to receive a col- 

 lection of shells arranged by Dr. Pearson, and the geological almirahs have become 

 nearly filled with contributions from various quarters. 



With regard to the Library, it seems essentially necessary to incur some expence 

 for the better preservation of the books, especially the valuable records of other 

 Societies, presented periodically in paper covers. I beg to propose that some 

 professional person be appointed binder to the Society, who may be entrusted 

 with the binding of all new books on fixed rates, under the Committee of Pa- 

 pers. 



The furash of the Museum, a very old man, who has been with the Society since 

 its first establishment, has been allowed to retire on a trifling pension without caus- 

 ing any additional charge to the establishment. 



We have to deplore the loss of two Members, by death, during the past year, one 

 of them, Captain Herbert, is so well known by the high services he has rendered 

 to science in India, that the tribute of an obituary testimony to his memory becomes 



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