292 Asiatic Society. [May, 



Government, to express in any manner disapprobation of its proceedings. Look- 

 ing only to the motive of securing the success of the application which they were 

 about to make, he would say, omit in the address all and every topic of contro- 

 versy. The Government, in receiving an address such as was now proposed, 

 would appear called upon to vote its own condemnation. He would, on these 

 grounds, give his voice against the amendment. 



Mr. Macnaghten again rose, and spoke to the following effect : 



Mr. President, we have been assured by Mr. Colvin more than once, that he 

 is no lawyer. He could not have asserted with equal truth, that he is no preach- 

 er, for he has favoured us with a very lengthy discourse on our duties, both to 

 the Government and the people. But I must take the liberty of differing with him 

 altogether, as to the doctrines he has propounded. "We are an independent, and 

 I trust, a respectable body, congregated for the purpose of promoting by every 

 means in our power the cause of literature and science. As the guardians of 

 that sacred cause, it is not only our privilege, but our duty to appeal, respectfully 

 it is true, but earnestly, to that power which is competent to rescue it from im- 

 pending danger. I would go further and say, that if the Government could be so 

 infatuated as to declare open hostility against the languages and literature of the 

 people of India, it would be an obligation, of which we could not divest our- 

 selves without disgrace, to remonstrate against such a proceeding with all our 

 energies. If we think we have the law as well as the justice of the case on our 

 side, no liberal, no equitable Government would be offended by our pointing it 

 out. — Mr. Colvin has again returned to the ground which he first took up, and 

 has indulged in the use of slighting and contemptuous language as applied to ori- 

 ental studies. He has moreover asserted, that such sentiments are entertained 

 by the natives themselves. Gentlemen, I have now been resident in this country 

 upwards of twenty-six years, and, I believe, I may say, that I have not been defi- 

 cient in my attention to the genius of the people, tLeir languages, their literature, 

 their habits, or their prejudices, and I will venture to affirm, that nothing can be 

 more without foundation than the supposition which Mr. Colvin appears to enter- 

 tain. Oriental literature has much to recommend it, and the natives of the coun- 

 try are passionately devoted to that literature. It cannot be otherwise. I cannot 

 sit down without agai'n expressing my astonishment, that this place should have 

 been selected for such an attack. If havoc and desolation rage around us, we 

 may not be able to prevent it; but here in the citadel of our strength, that an effort 

 at our overthrow should be made, is to me astonishing. I have no fear, however, 

 that it will be successful, or that there will be difference of opinion as to the cha- 

 racter of the proceeding. 



The President, however unwilling to offer an opinion from the chair, must 

 object to the amendment, because it appeared to entertain a doubt of the legality 

 of the course pursued. Government acted by advice, and there remained an ap- 

 peal to the proper tribunals if any interest were aggrieved. He was anxious to 

 impress on the Society the necessity of abstaining from legal and political dis- 

 cussions, as quite out of character in a literary and scientific institution. Otherwise 

 they must lose many members who could not vote, nay, could not sit, where 

 such topics were to be canvassed. The case was strong enough of itself ; the 

 application for continuing the suspended oriental publications was a most proper 

 object for the Society to urge ; it should have his warmest support, provided it 

 were unmixed with other matters which had been the subject of discussion else- 

 where, and upon which the Government had expressed their opinion. He had a 

 very strong opinion on the necessity of excluding debatable topics of this nature 

 from the Society, and if they were to continue such discussions he for one should 

 be compelled to retire. Literary and Scientific subjects seemed to him the only 

 matters proper for discussion with them, except the little usual business which 

 must of course be disposed of. 



Mr. Macnaghten, with the most unfeigned deference and respect to the learned 

 President, must take leave to express his doubts, as to the doctrine which he had 

 delivered, or at all events to seek for some explanation which might solve his dif- 

 ficulties. He understood from him, thatin thisplace, they were never competent to 

 touch upon a question of law, and that if they did, those who are connected with 



