252 Asiatic Society, [April, 



water shells to send to England, France, America, the Cape of Good Hope, 

 and the Isle of France. I have also prepared duplicate specimens of insects 

 from my collection, to send to various scientific societies and individuals in 

 England. And I have sent some specimens of birds, purchased in Calcutta, to 

 a gentleman, Monsieur Virot, who is celebrated for his labours in Taxidermy at 

 the Cape. These were transmitted through Sir Charlks D'Oyly, who had 

 kindly undertaken to forward them ; and I took the liberty of sending them in 

 the name of the Society; though, of course, as I was unauthorised to do so, I 

 did not burthen the Society with the expence of the purchase. It has been 

 proposed to Monsieur Virot, to send African birds to our Museum in exchange, 

 and Sir Charles has no doubt of his acceding to the proposition. Should he 

 agree, the Society will perhaps give me permission to forward to him the dupli- 

 cates now upon the table. 



With reference to the financial part. Of the 50 rupees monthly for contin- 

 gencies, I have given 40 to M. Bouchez for his assistance ; and subsequently 

 increased his salary to 50 Compy.'s rupees, by reducing my own from 150 Sicca 

 to 150 Compy.'s rupees ; by this the Society also is a gainer to the amount of a 

 few rupees. Of the sum for contingencies, all has been expended, and about 180 in 

 excess. This sum I am prepared to refund, should it bethought proper for 

 me to do so. 



It was stipulated, that I should give up my occupation as Editor of the 

 India Journal of Medical Science ; and that I should rent a house near the 

 Society's, if procurable, or entertain the means of daily attendance. I gave up 

 the Editorship of the Journal on the publication of the number following my 

 appointment. But with regard to the house, I found insurmountable difficulties 

 in the way ; none being procurable but the one immediately opposite, and that 

 at a rent far exceeding my means to pay. I had recourse, therefore, to the 

 alternative, and my attendance has been regular, always once, and generally 

 twice, a day. 



With reference to the present year, (should my appointment be renewed,) I do 

 not anticipate the expences will equal those of the past ; the cabinets, being 

 now nearly complete, I propose to finish the Ornithological and Conchological 

 catalogues, and to arrange the fishes, reptiles, and insects. With Mr. Prinsep's 

 aid too, the fossil remains will be examined and the new ones described. While 

 generally, the new specimens in various departments of the science will be pre- 

 pared and arranged in the Museum, as they come in. We have reason to believe 

 these will be very numerous. 



Such have been the labours of the past year, and what I propose for the 

 present. I could have wished to have done more, particularly in completing 

 the catalogues ; but the difficulties in arranging a collection of Natural History 

 from the beginning, are greater than any one not conversant with them can 

 imagine. In all departments there was here much to be done ; and of some 

 there was not a vestige when I took charge. The Museum will now, I 

 trust, go on thriving, and be worthy the name of the Society to which it 

 belongs. Its establishment, as a focus into which may be collected the natural 

 treasures of the East, is an object I have long had at heart : before I was a Mem- 

 ber of the Society, several years ago, I wrote to the President, and proposed 

 what has now been accomplished, and what it will be my pride to be permitted 

 to sustain. I intreat you to carry it on upon its present footing, for at least 

 another year ; when I am sure you will be as anxious for it to continue, as I am 

 myself. The attention of mankind is now directed to the natural sciences, as 

 is sufficiently proved by the publication of so many books concerning them ; and 

 none is more attractive than zoology. To the attention the Society has lately given 

 to these sciences, the great increase of Members is to be attributed ; an increase 

 during the last year unparalleled in its annals ; but which I believe will be fully 

 equalled or surpassed in the present. Its reputation will also, I doubt not, be 

 as much enhanced by the researches of its members in Natural History, as it has 

 been, and is, by their labours in the learning of the East. 



Gentlemen, upon this point I may quote the words of our illustrious founder, 

 who said, that, the inquiries of the Society " will be extended to whatever is 

 performed by man, or produced by nature." The former part of this prediction 



