96 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 1, 



publication in their Journal, papers connected with the appointment 

 of Colonel Alexander Cunningham, to the investigation of antiquities 

 of Behar and other parts of Upper India, a task for which he is 

 known to be very highly qualified. 



2. Colonel Cunningham has been at work in South Behar since 

 the early part of December, and it is believed that his researches 

 have already been rewarded by some important identifications of 

 localities, mentioned in the ancient Buddhist writings. 



I have, &c, 

 (Sd.) H. Yule, Lieut. -Colonel, 



Secy, to the Govt, of India. 



Dated 22nd January, 1862. 



Minute by the Right Hon'ble the Governor General of India in 

 Council on the Antiquities of Upper India. 



In November last, when at Allahabad, I had communications with 

 Colonel A. Cunningham, then the Chief Engineer of the N. W, 

 Provinces, regarding an investigation of the archaeological remains of 

 Upper India. 



It is impossible to pass through that part, or indeed, so far as my 

 experience goes, any part, of the British territories in India without 

 being struck by the neglect with which the greater portion of the 

 architectural remains, and of the traces of by-gone civilization have 

 been treated, though many of these and some which have had least 

 notice are full of beauty and interest. 



By " neglect" I do not mean only the omission to restore them, 

 or even to arrest their decay ; for this would be a task, which in many 

 cases, would require an expenditure of labour and money, far greater 

 than any Government of India could reasonably bestow upon it. 



But so far as the Government is concerned, there has been neglect 

 of a much cheaper duty ; that of investigating and placing on record, 

 for the instruction of future generations, many particulars that might 

 still be rescued from oblivion, and throw light upon the early history 

 of England's great dependency ; a history which, as time moves on, 

 as the country becomes more easily accessible, and traversable, and 

 as Englishmen are led to give more thought to India than such as 

 barely suffices to hold it and govern it, will assuredly occupy, more 

 and more, the attention of the intelligent and enquiring classes in 

 European countries. 



