1837.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 495 



These then, are the motives that have persuaded the Society of the propriety of 

 an appeal to the Ruling Power: — not to contribute to the ordinary wants and engage* 

 meats of the institution, but to convert that institution into a public and national 

 concern, hy entrusting it with the foundation and superintendence of what has yet 

 to be formed for the instruction of our native fellow subjects, as much as for the 

 furtherance of science,— a public depository of the products of nature in India and tho 

 surrounding countries properly preserved, properly arranged, and properly applied. 



To effect such an object it is indispensable that the services of a professional natu- 

 ralist of high attainments should be engaged, and that he should have at his com- 

 mand the means of working effectually, and of devoting his whole time to the em- 

 ployment. 



What, it may be asked, will be the return to government if the state undertake to 

 supply such an officer ? To this question more than one satisfactory answer may 

 readily be given. 



The Honorable Company have in Leaden'iall Street a very valuable museum sup- 

 ported at considerable expense. To that museum, ours would be a powerful auxili- 

 ary. Duplicates of every sort here collected might be set apart for England. Again 

 the local government has scientific expeditions continually employed in exploring 

 the country. Geographical, geodesical, and statistical information is continu- 

 ally under collection without any offiee of record, or officer of analysis, to whom it 

 can he appropriately referred for digestion. Efforts are continually misemployed for 

 want of proper direction, and opportunities are lost for want of proper instructions 

 that may be ever regretted by the scientific world. Again, the means of education 

 in the natural sciences would be improved or rather created by the formation of a 

 museum, the superintendent of which would always be able to devote a portion of 

 his time to demonstrations and lectures, either expected as a part of his duty, or 

 yielding a means of partial reimbursement. 



But the Society feels that it is almost unbecoming to suppose that the Govern- 

 ment of a great country woukl ask for reasons to support the present application ; 

 for the encouragement given' to botanical pursuits by the maintenance of two public 

 gardens at considerable charge, and the suins placed at the disposal of the agricultural 

 and horticultural societies aud to similar institutions, are so many evidences that 

 the Government have only to be convinced that the object is one of essential public 

 benefit, or calculated to promote scientific discovery, when the inclination to provide 

 the necessary support will not be wanting. The expenditure that has been bestowed 

 upon the theoretical admeasurement of the earth's surface, for the elaborate deter- 

 mination of which the Honorable Company's Government has been justly held up to 

 the admiration of the world, is an instance particularly in point. The Society has ever 

 felt that the public grants to those and numerous other objects of a similar nature, 

 have been boons to itself, so far as they have promoted the researches contemplated, 

 in its original foundation ; and if on this occasion it fails to impress upon Government 

 the claims of other branches of science and literature, all of which require and will 

 benefit hy the establishment of a public museum, the Society will attribute it rather 

 to the weakness of the appeal made on its behalf than to the real weakness of its 

 cause. 



I have only in conclusion, to explain that although the Society in the accompany- 

 ing resolution has ventured to name a specific sum which would probably be sufficient 

 for the objects which it has in view yet the members would leave it entirely to the 

 superior judgment of your Lordship in Council to determine what sum it would be 

 expedient to devote from the public finances towards the general futherance of the 

 Society's objects ; should it indeed appear to you that the application which I have 

 been requested to lay before Government, is based on sound and reasonable argu- 

 ments, and that it merits the consideration and support which I have ventured, as 

 much from my own feelings as from my duty to the Society, to urge in its favor. 



I have the honor to be, &c. 



Calcutta, \5th June, 1837. (Signed) Edward Ryan, 



President. 

 [For a copy of the Resolutions annexed see page 400.] 



To the Honorable Sir E. Ryan, Knight. 



President of the Asiatic Society. 

 Honorable Sir, 



The representation submitted by you on behalf of the Asiatic Society of Calcutta 

 has been considered by the Right Honorable the Governor General of India in 

 Council with the attention due to the importance of the objects for which the 

 assistance of Government is solicited, and to the character of the Society and o£ 

 those who have united in the resolution to make this appeal. 



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