292 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 3, 
ed, but they are unwilling to assume that this is the case without 
a definite assurance that they have not misinterpreted the Commit- 
tee’s views. 
At the same time, I am to say that the Council are generally of 
opinion that the association at Lahore will be most permanently 
useful by co-operating as alocal Committee with the Society. It has 
been found that all attempts hitherto made to maintain independent 
societies in the interior of the country have invariably failed, and the 
Council believe that the time has not yet arrived when similar 
attempts are likely to be attended with more than temporary success. 
The Council will be glad to be put in possession of your Com- 
mittee’s view on this point, and receive any suggestions that may 
occur to you regarding the mode in which communication should be 
conducted, and they will then endeavour to make such arrangements 
as will meet your wishes and be most conducive to the success of 
the object of the Committee and this Society. 
I have, &c., 
(Sd.) W. S. ATKINSON, 
Secretary, Asiatic Society of Bengal. 
From T. H. Tuornton, Hsq., D. C. L., 
Secretary, Lahore Committee. 
To THE SECRETARY TO THE Asiatic SocIETY OF BENGAL. 
Dated, Lahore, the 21st April, 1863. 
Sir,—Your letter of the 9th March last has been laid before the 
Lahore Committee, whose meeting was somewhat delayed owing to 
the absence of some of the principal members from Lahore, and I am 
directed to reply as follows to the inquiries made regarding the 
“precise wishes and intentions of the Committee as to its consti- 
tution, and the publication of its proceedings and researches.” 
2. The latter portion of your second paragraph correctly describes 
what the desire of the Committee is, viz., to bea Local Committee of 
the Asiatic Society, contributing its papers for publication in the 
Society’s Journal. 
3. They would prefer this to attempting to establish an indepen- 
dent Society, for the reason you mention ; for in a Society like that 
of Lahore, composed chiefly of Government officials and other persons 
