1836.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 753 



X. — Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 

 Wednesday Evening, the 7th December, 1836. 



The Honorable Sir Edward Ryan, President, in the chair. 



H. Walter, Esq. C. S., Principal Bramley, Dr. James Dhummond, 

 Nawab Tahawur JuNGBehadur, ShahGjABiR u'di'n, and Dr. R. A. Jack- 

 son, proposed at the last meeting, were balloted for, and duly elected 

 Members of the Society. 



Mr. W. Dent was proposed by Mr. H. T. Prinsep, seconded by the 

 Secretary. 



Mr. Manuk, proposed by Dr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Baillie. 



Babu Herambana'th Thakur was appointed to officiate as Collector 

 to the Society, during the absence of Babu Ram Comul Sen, on a visit to 

 the Upper Provinces. 



The following reply from Government regarding the AVf Leila was 

 read: 



To James Prinsep, Esq. 



Genl. JDept. Secretary to the Asiatic Society. 



Sir, 



I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 7th ultimo, 

 relative to the proposition of Mr. C. Brownlow, to publish at his own private 

 risk a complete edition of the Ulif Leila, or Arabian Nights' Entertainments, 

 in the original Arabic, from a very complete manuscript purchased by him from 

 the estate of the late Major Macan, and requesting the same support to this 

 work as has usually been accorded both by the local Governments, and by the 

 Honorable Court of Directors to literary undertakings of a similar description. 



2. In reply, I am directed to state that in compliance with the recommenda- 

 tion of the Asiatic Society, and in consideration of the manner in which the 

 publication of this work has been undertaken, and of the credit that will attach 

 to its completion in the manner proposed, his Lordship has been induced to 

 subscribe for fifty copies at the price stated, viz. 48 rupees per copy. 



3. The copies when printed will be appropriated for distribution as prizes 

 in the Seminaries of Education at which the study of Arabic is cultivated, with 

 the reservation of such number as the Governor of Bengal may present to the 

 Public Libraries and Institutions of Europe or of this country. Mr. Brownlow 

 may be desired to deliver the fifty copies at this office, where his bill for them 

 will be discharged. 



4. But the Right Honorable the Governor of Bengal cannot close the reply 

 to this reference from the Asiatic Society, without expressing a strong desire to 

 learn that the translation of the complete work is likely to be undertaken by 

 some competent scholar of this Presidency. His Lordship will be glad to be 

 informed of any scheme for procuring th« accomplishment of this desirable 

 object, that the Asiatic Society may be able to suggest and think deserving of 

 encouragement. 



I have the honor to be, 

 Sir, 

 Your most obedient servant, 



H. T. Prinsep, 

 Fort William, the 2nd Nov. 1836. Secy, to Govt. 



Resolved, that a copy of the reply be transmitted to Mr. C. Brownlow, 

 the publisher of the work in question. 



It was intimated that a gentleman in the Civil Service, eminently qualified 

 for the task, had volunteered to make an English translation of the portions of 

 the " Nights' Entertainments" as yet unedited. 



