408 Proceedings of the [July, 



After the disappointments which have hitherto attended the labor of orientalists 

 in their search for historical annals, comprehensive in data and consistent in their chro- 

 noloqy, a translation alone of a Pali History of such extensive pretensions, would be 

 justly received with repulsing scepticism, as to its authenticity, by the literary 

 world. 1 have therefore decided on publishing the text also in Roman characters, 

 pointed with diacritical marks. The entire work will occupy, with its supplementa- 

 ry notes and explanations, about 1200 pages of quarto. As the publication how- 

 ever is undertaken entirely at my own expence, and possibly official demands on my 

 time may prevent the early completion of the whole work, the recteption the first 

 volume may meet with, and other circumstances, over which I can exercise no con- 

 trol, will hereafter decide whether I proceed beyond that volume. 



While this quarto is in the press, a few copies in octavo of the early chapters are 

 also in progress of being printed for me. These, I purpose, in a few weeks, to dis- 

 tribute among the Literary Societies, prefixed to copies of the " Epitome." 



I invite the Members of the Asiatic Society, who have done me the honor to 

 associate me with them, to enter upon a criticism of this work. I allude not to the 

 translation (for the disadvantages or advantages under which I perform the unpre- 

 tending task of translating, will be undisguisedly stated) ; but on the original 

 work. If, as I believe, it will stand the test of that scrutiny, the foundation, I 

 conceive, will then be laid for the development and adaptation to chronological order, 

 of a vast mass of historical data, connected with India, which are now scattered in 

 detached fragments amongst the voluminous religious Pali records still extant in this 

 island ; and I trust also, that the attention of orientalists will thereby at last be 

 directed to the examination of the P&li works so often alluded to by Colonel Tod 

 and others, as being still in existence in the Rajput and other western divisions of 

 India. 



I remain, &c. 



Kandy, \0th July, 1835. GEORGE TURNOUR. 



Several Members present expressed a desire to possess Mr. Turnour's 

 work, and 12 copies were at once subscribed for, The communication was 

 referred to the Committee of Papers, to consider how the objects of the 

 author could be best promoted. 



Read a reply of the Bishop of Cochin China, to the Secretary's letter, 

 dated 2nd April, forwarding- a portion of the MSS. Dictionaries prepared 

 by him for publication. Referred to the Committee of Papers. 



The Secretary intimated the completion of a revised catalogue of the 

 Society's Library, of which copies were distributed to the Members present. 



Library. 



Read a letter from Arthur Aikin, Esq. Secretary to the Royal Society 

 of Arts, &c. acknowledging the receipts of vols. 17 and 18, of the Asiatic 

 Researches, and forwarding for presentation, — 



Transactions of that Society for the sessions 1S33-34. 



The following books were also presented : 



Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Parts I. and II., for the 

 year 1834 — by the Society. 



Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue of the Physiological Series of Comparative 

 Anatomy, contained in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons in London, 

 vol. 2nd — by the College. 



The Indian Journal of Medical Science, Nos. 19 and 20— by the Editors. 



Madras Journal of Literature and Science, No. 8— by the Mad. Lit. Soc. 



A copy of the Kifayah, a Treatise on the Questions of Muhammedan Law, by 

 Hakim Maulavi Abdul Mojid, and presented by the author. 



A collection of Witty Sayings in Urdu— by Raja Kalikishan Bahddur. 



Meteorological Register for June, 1835— by the Surveyor General. 



A Lecture on the Vendidad Sadi of the Parsis, delivered at Bombay, on the 19th 

 and 26th June, 1833 ; also, an Exposure of the Hiudu Religion, in reply to Mora Bhat- 

 ta Dandekara, and, a Second Reply to Narayana Rao of Satara— by the author, the 

 Rev. John Wilson. 



The following books were received from the booksellers : 



Illustrations of Indian Zoology, from Major-General Hardwicke's Collection of 

 Indian Animals. 



