1836.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society . 755 



sin, agent and bookseller to the Paris Society, suggesting arrangements 

 regarding the prices of the several works. 



A letter from M. Rouy de Rochelle, President of the Geographical 

 Society of Paris, stated that a resolution of the Society had determined 

 to present the Asiatic Society with a complete series of their Bulletin, 

 anterior to the period when its relations with Calcutta had commenced. 



Resolved, that the compliment be returned by presenting a copy of such 

 former volumes of the Researches as are in store. 



A letter from Mr. Edward Thomas, C. S. at Almorah, presented three 

 manuscript volumes in short-hand of the late Mr. Laidlay. 



They appear to be private note books, and memoranda of the author's read- 

 ing — not in the common form of stenography, and therefore illegible. 



Dr. D. Stewart presented copies of the Proceedings of the Statistical 

 Society of London for 1835-36, and series of questions and forms for circu- 

 lation, with a view of extending its information on subjects connected 

 with the science. 



The President founded upon these documents, a motion for the formation 

 of a Committee in the Society, which should direct its exclusive attention to 

 the Statistics of India, both by inviting returns to circulars modified to suit the 

 circumstances of the country, and by searching, with permission, the records of 

 Government. 



Mr. H. T. Prinsep urged that the magnitude of the object was beyond the 

 power of a Committee ; the Government had at one time expressly commenced 

 such a record, and had given it up after spending a lakh and a half of rupees on 

 three small districts. 



Dr. Stewart thought that the materials collected might be examined and 

 abstracted by the Committee, and, without aiming at minute detail, much useful 

 information might be obtained on the population and mortality, for instance, 

 of the principal towns. He had himself lately roughly estimated the mortality 

 of Calcutta, and was appalled at finding it 1 in 26, the highest rate almost 

 on record. After some discussion it was 



Resolved, that a Statistical Committee be formed, consisting of Sir B. 

 Malkin, Mr. J. G. Gjrdon, Mr. W. Adam, Mr. Baillie, and Dr. D. 

 Stewart, the latter gentleman kindly undertaking the duties of Secre- 

 tary. 



Library. 



The following books were presented. 



The Archaelogia, or Transactions of the Antiquarian Society of London — by 

 the Society. 



Transactions of the Geological Society of London, vol. iii. part 3, and vol. 

 iv. part 1 — by the Society. 



Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of London, No. 5 — by the Society. 



Proceedings of the Geological Society of London, Nos. 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 

 and 45 — by the Society. 



Sir Phillip Grey Egerton's Catalogue of Fossil fish in his own and Lord 

 Cole's Collection — by the Author. 



