1837] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 77 



2ndly. Inquiry into the causes of the general inferiority of the staple articles 

 of Indian commerce. 



3rdly. The introduction of new articles and processes from analogous climates 

 in other parts of the world. 



The Committee of Correspondence of the Royal Asiatic Society beg leave to 

 bring the circumstance to your notice ; trusting, confidently, on your zealous 

 support of a measure, calculated to promote objects alike interesting to the 

 patriot and the philanthropist. 



Of the means of support, the most acceptable would, of course, be such an 

 accession of new members, European or Asiatic, as would at once provide the 

 necessary funds, and as would afford the requisite contribution of knowledge and 

 experience in the various branches of inquiry to which the labors of the Sec- 

 tion are to be directed. But the Society will be most happy to receive the 

 tender of the aid (whether in knowledge or funds) of affiliated Societies, pursu- 

 ing the same beneficial objects, or any other co-operation or assistance which 

 you may have the goodness to offer. 



For the fuller explanation of the scheme in question, the Committee direct 

 me to transmit to you the accompanying printed papers ; and I shall be happy 

 to afford you any further information in my power, in regard to it, that you 

 may require. 



T have the honor to be, 



My Lords and Gentlemen, 

 Your most obedient humble servant, 



Alexander Johnston, 

 Chairman of the Committee of Correspondence, R. A. S. 

 To the President, Vice-Presidents and Members of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 



Resolved, th;it a portion of the papers be made over to the Agricultural 

 Society, and that general circulation be given to the Royal Asiatic Socie- 

 ty's prospectus. 



A letter from Mr. Alexander Vattemore, addressed to the Governor 

 General of India, was read, proposing to negociate a general system of 

 exchanges of duplicates between the various libraries and museums of the 

 world. 



Resolved, that copies of the library catalogue now printing be furnished 

 to Mr. Vattemore, in furtherance of his laudable design. 



The following protest from members of the Society residing in the 

 interior was communicated by Colonel J. Colvin. 



Dissentient. 



It appears to us that in a society constituted as the Asiatic Society of Ben- 

 gal is, the existence of a fund vested in Government Securities is absolutely 

 necessary for the permanence of the foundation. 



We consider that such funds are intended to be reserved for cases of extreme 

 emergency, and that the interest only of such funds should be carried to the 

 current expenses of the Society. 



We also consider that any infringement of a law upon which the Society's 

 existence may be said to depend, is injurious not only to the Society itself as a 

 body, but to the interests of the members individually ; and may be drawn in 

 as a precedent for further encroachments, leading to the ultimate dissolution 

 of the Society. 



For these reasons, we dissent from the resolution passed at the meeting of 

 the Society of the 4th May, 1836, continuing the services of a Curator at two 

 hundred rupees per mensem ; the account current shewing a deficiency of 

 rupees 571-0-1, and the payment of the Curator's salary being proposed to be 

 made out of the vested funds of Mr. Bruce. Further, in adverting to the 

 Secretary's remark, " that M. Bouchez, the assistant and working Curator, 

 would be competent to set up all new specimens and preserve the present col- 



