1862.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 97 



It will not be to our credit, as an enlightened ruling power, if 

 we continue to allow such fields of investigation, as the remains of 

 the old Buddhist capital in Behar, the plains round Delhi, studded 

 with ruins more thickly than even the Campagna of Rome, and 

 many others, to remain without more examination than they have 

 hitherto received. Everything that has hitherto been done in this 

 way, has been done by private persons, imperfectly and without 

 system. It is impossible not to feel, that there are European 

 Governments, which, if they had held our rule in India, would not 

 have allowed this to be said. 



It is true that in 1814, on a representation from the Royal Asiatic 

 Society, and in 1847, in accordance with detailed suggestions from 

 Lord Hardinge, the Court of Directors gave a liberal sanction to 

 certain arrangements for examining:, delineating:, and recording: some 



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of the chief antiquities of India. But for one reason or another, 

 mainly perhaps owing to the Officer entrusted with the task having 

 other work to do, and owing to his early death, very little seems to 

 have resulted from this endeavour. A few drawings of antiquities, 

 and some remains, were transmitted to the India House, and some 

 fifteen or twenty papers were contributed by Major Kittoe and Ma- 

 jor Cunningham to the Journals of the Asiatic Society ; but, so far 

 as the Government is concerned, the scheme appears to have been 

 lost sight of within two or three years of its adoption. 



I enclose a memorandum drawn up by Col. Cunningham, wlio 

 has, more than any other Officer on this side of India, made the 

 antiquities of the country his study, and who has here sketched 

 the course of proceeding which a more complete and systematic 

 archaeological investigation should, in his opinion, take. 



I think it good, — and none the worse for being a beginning on a 

 moderate scale. It will certainly cost very little in itself, and will 

 commit the Government to no future or unforeseen expense. For it 

 does not contemplate the spending of any money upon repairs and 

 preservation. This, when done at all, should be done upon a separ- 

 ate and full consideration of any case which may seem to claim it. 

 What is aimed at is an accurate description, illustrated by plans, 

 measurements, drawings or photographs, and by copies of inscriptions, 

 of such remains as most deserve notice with the history of them so 

 far as it may be traceable, and a record of the traditions that are re- 

 tained regarding them. 



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