1835.] Asiatic Society. 291 



Mr. W. H. Macnaghten could not help expressing his astonishment, at the 

 observations which had been made by the gentleman who had just sat down. He had 

 hoped that in this place at least, oriental literature would have found protection and 

 favor : that, however ruthlessly and successfully tbe opposition to this cause might 

 have manifested itself in other quarters ; here, at least, no enemy would be per- 

 mitted to enter under the garb of a votary, and that this sanctuary of science 

 might not be polluted by any unhallowed voice. Now he was tempted to exclaim, 

 Procul, procul este profani ! When he heard a gentleman coming forward with 

 such an objection as has been made, he could not help ascribing it to something 

 more than a dislike to the epithet. What expression could possibly have been 

 used more innocent or more appropriate ? Here was the factbefore them, that the 

 funds dedicated to oriental literature had been entirely carried off; that works of 

 all descriptions, scientific as well as others, had been strangled in the very 

 act of coming into the world, and thrown aside as useless and pernicious ; and 

 after all this, when they said that the authors of this to them grievous calamity 

 were actuated by another favorite object, they were taken to task for the expres- 

 sion. He really wanted words to express his surprise at such a frivolous objection 

 being urged, and he trusted the Society would evince the same sense of it as he 

 entertained, that it was wholly unworthy of being attended to. 



Mr. Colvin's proposition was not seconded. 



Mr. Prinsep, thought that the terms ' deeply regret' were not nearly strong 

 enough to show the sentiments of the Society — he would suggest ' cannot see the 

 necessity' 1 as more appropriate. 



This expression after some discussion was substituted. 



On the perusal of the 12th paragraph, which stood originally as follows : 



" The Society therefore earnestly beseech the Honorable the Governor General 

 in Council, tnat he will be pleased to solicit pecuniary aid from the Court of Di- 

 rectors, to be annually appropriated to the revival of the oriental literature, and 

 the encouragement of learned native!:, and the Society will be happy to under- 

 take the superintendence, &c." 



Mr. H. T. Prinsep moved as an amendment, that the sentence be altered, (as 

 it now stands in the memorial,) to convey a stronger expression ot the So- 

 ciety's feeling on the recent measure. 



Mr. Colvin said, that he must oppose the amendment. He took the liberty 

 of again addressing the meeting, as he was desirous to record his opinion on the 

 question which had now been brought under discussion. He would not enter 

 into an argument on the point of law which had been mooted. He had himself 

 always considered, and still considered, the orders of the Government to be fully 

 consistent both with the terms and the spirit of the act of Parliament. He must 

 think it difficult to believe, that the legislature, in the first, and only specific 

 appropriation which it had made with a view to the mental advancement of the In- 

 dian people, had intended not to entrust to the Government, to which it has com- 

 mitted the immediate control of these territories, the discretion of applying the 

 fund as it might judge most expedient and practicable, in order to the cultivation 

 of tbe most improved literature, and the communication of the most enlightened 

 systems of knowledge, which its subjects might be found willing to receive at its 

 hands. It appeared to him a strange conclusion, that it had been meant by the 

 British Parliament to render compulsory the maintenance of a system calculated 

 to perpetuate the ignorance and prejudices of the people — that it had been 

 designed to fetter this Government and to restrain it from measures of 

 improvement. But he had said, that he would not go into a discussion of the 

 point of law. He would rather state what he considered to be the duty of the 

 Society in regard to the address which was now to be presented. Was it proper, 

 he would ask, — was it respectful, in going up to Government as applicants for its 

 assistance, that they should assert, by implication, that it had, in its late measure, 

 deviated from its proper course ? Was that a subject which the Society ought to 

 entertain at all ? Further, he would urge that it would certainly be most disad- 

 vantageous for their own purpose, were they, in appealing to the liberality ot 



oo2 



