430 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 4, 



" It appears from the papers on the ease that Mr. Blyth's applica- 

 tion was considered inadmissible by the late Hon'ble Court of Directors, 

 on the ground that ' the grant of pensions from the public revenues 

 is strictly limited to those who are in the direct service of Government.' 

 This principle still holds good, and His Excellency the Governor- 

 General in Council does not think that Mr. Blyth's application for a 

 pension can be supported on the ground now advanced by the Asiatic 

 Society. As a special case, however, it appears to His Excellency in 

 Council to have claims to consideration. It is the case, His Excel- 

 lency remarks, of a man of science, who has devoted himself for a 

 very small salary to duties in connexion with the Asiatic Society, a 

 body aided by and closely identified with the Government of India 

 from which the public have derived great advantage. 



" Mr. Blyth may truly be said to have been, in a great measure, 

 the creator of the Natural History Museum, which has hitherto 

 supplied the place of a Public Museum in the metropolis of India 

 and which will probably, soon be made over to Government, as part 

 of a National Museum. This collection is open to the public free of 

 charge, and many thousands have derived benefit and instruction 

 from it. 



"In addition to the direct educational benefits of the Museum, the 

 character and standing of the Asiatic Society undoubtedly exercise 

 a most beneficial indirect effect in maintaining a high standard of 

 Science and Literature among a numerous body of the Civil and 

 Military Officers in the service of Government, and in one important 

 department, that of Zoology and Natural History, Mr. Blyth's labours 

 have done much to maintain and to extend that character. 



" His Excellency in Council considers, therefore, that if, under 

 such circumstances, Mr. Blyth should after twenty years' service, be 

 compelled to retire from ill-health, brought on very much by his 

 exertions in pursuit of science, it would not be creditable to the 

 Government that he should be allowed to leave without any retiring 

 pension, and His Excellency in Council is of opinion that if the rule 

 which limits pensions to those who are in the direct service of 

 Government can be relaxed, the application on behalf of Mr. Blyth 

 ought to be favorably entertained." 



The Chairman moved that the thanks of the Society be conveyed 

 to His Excellency in Council for the liberal concessions made in favour 

 of Mr. Blyth. 



