83 



Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 



[No. 1, 



While, however, the Council are thus prepared to accede to his 

 Honour's suggestions with regard to the management of the new mu- 

 seum, and to waive any claim of exclusive privilege for the members 

 of the Society, they regret that the proposed modifications of Rules X. 

 and XIII. are such as they cannot for a moment entertain. On this 

 point there is ei t re unanimity on the part of the Council, and they 

 feel sure that the same feeling pervades the Society at large. In fact 

 his Honour must on further consideration concur with them that the 

 Society would, after such a transfer as that suggested, cease to exist! 

 It would have no privileges to offer to its members, who would gradu- 

 ally leave an institution which had nothing but its traditions and its 

 name to hold it together, and would in a few years have nothing but 

 its house to yield it an income, 



It appears, however, to the Council that the objects which the 

 Government and the Society respectively have in view are not incom- 

 patible, and that the Society's library and the museum being under the 

 same roof, while the library remains the property of the Society, it 

 may equally be available to the curators or others working in 

 the museum, as is at present the case ; and thus that such funds as 

 may be allotted by Government for the formation of a museum library 

 may for some time to come be devoted to the purchase of such works 

 as are not already possessed by the Society, I am, therefore, directed 

 by the Council to propose the above modification of his Honour's 

 suggestions, and to express their hope that this arrangement may be 

 found to fulfil every desired end. 



I have, &c. 



(Sd.) EL F. Bla^eoed, 



Secy. Asiatic Society. 



No. 7822. 



From E. C. Batley, Esq., Secy, to the Govt, of India, To H. F. 

 Bla:ntobd, Esq,, Secy, to the Asiatic Society of Bengal 



Bated Fort William, the 5th Dec, 1863, 

 Home Department. 



Sie,— I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 



489, dated the 6th ultimo, intimating that the Council of the Asiatic 



Society are prepared to accede to the suggestions offered to them with 



egaid to the management of the new museum, and to waive any 



