1S37.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 399 



thanks could be proffered : but to the Right Honorable President of the Royal 

 Asiatic Society, to Sir Alexander Johnston, and to Sir G. Staunton, were 

 due the highest compliment the Society was capable of paying. 



He begged therefore to propose, that these gentlemen be elected honorary 

 Members, without the usual form of reference to the Committee of Papers, and 

 that letters of thanks be addressed to each for the cordial support they had given 

 to the cause of Oriental literature. 



After a few objections on the score of departure from established form, and 

 want of full official information, the proposition was put from the chair and 

 carried Nem. Con. 



A letter from Professor Rafn, Secretary of the Royal Society of North- 

 ern Antiquaries at Copenhagen, acknowledged receipt of Asiatic Resear- 

 ches, xiii. — xviii., and forwarded the Society's Reports for 1836. One 

 addressed to the English Members, contains an account of Iceland from the 

 oldest Icelandic records. 



Professor O. Frank of Munich acknowledged receipt of the Muhabhd- 

 rat, vol. ii. 



The Secretary of the Antiquarian Society, ditto of the xxth vol. As. Res. 



The following Report of the Committee of Papers on the subject of the 

 Museum, was read: — 



To James Prinsep, Esq. 



Secretary to the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 



Report of the Committee of Papers on the Museum Ques/iou. 

 The Committee having perused Dr. Pearson's Report on the operations of 

 the Museum for the second experimental year, and having examined the state of 

 the objects of Natural History, acquired, set up, and arranged under his superin- 

 tendence, is of opinion that the Society is much indebted to his zeal and exer- 

 tions, and that the sum voted for the support of the Museum in May, 1835, and 

 renewed in May, 1836', has been well bestowed and profitably expended. 



2. That nothing less than the actual demand for the Society's income on other 

 objects imperatively necessary, such as the publication of its Researches, and the 

 repair of its premises, would warrant the withdrawal of support from a depart- 

 ment every day becoming of greater magnitude and importance; but that the 

 following estimate of the receipts and payments of the Society for the ensuing 

 twelve months, renders this contiuuance of the Museum establishment on the 

 Society's present means, inexpedient. 



Estimated Receipts, for 1837-8. 



Cash balance in the Bank of Bengal 652 14 1 



Interest on the Papers deposited with the Government Agent, 835 



Quarterly contributions, 6,500 



Allowance from Government for Oriental library 936 



8,923 14 1 



Estimated Charges. 



Arrears of Establishment for March and April, 1837, .. 563 11 



The Museum allowance for April, 213 5 4 



Subscription to Journ. As. Soc, for 1836, not yet paid,., 1,293 



Establishment and charges for 12 mouths 3,200 



Subscription to the Journal Asiatic Society, for 1837, •• 1,500 

 Ditto to the Oriental Translation Fund in England, 10 



guineas per annum, 200 



To printing 2nd part of the 19th vol. As. Researches, 2,500 

 Cleaning and painting the house exclusive of any alte- 

 ration and repairs, 900 10,370 4 



Deficiency, Co. 's Rs... 1,446 2 3 

 without estimating even a reduced allowance for the maintenance of the Museum. 



3. That, viewiug the maintenance of the Museum as a national object, and cal- 

 culated to be of immense importance to science if placed upon a footing of effi- 

 ciency, witli a professional Naturalist at the head, directiug researches and 

 3 c 2 



