

508 



Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 



[No. 114. 



The Asoka stone bearing the Palee Inscription, forwarded by Major 

 Thoresby. The mass of granite bearing the Asoka Inscription, fac-simile 

 and translation of which was published in No. 95 of the Asiatic Jour- 

 nal, was laid in the Society's rooms for the inspection of the meeting, 

 having arrived only four days previously. This the most ancient (B. 

 C. 250) and one of the most valuable of the relics of Indian Antiquity in 

 the possession of the Society, was inspected with extreme interest by all 

 the Members present. 



It is in admirable preservation, and the characters are cut with dis- 

 tinctness and elegance. A careful comparison with the published fac- 

 simile shewing that it is perfectly correct. The Society have now by 

 the intervention of that zealous antiquarian Capt. Burt, and the obliging 

 kindness of Major Thoresby, been placed in possession of an Original 

 Edict of Anoka. It is the decyphering of the character in which the 

 Edicts of that Monarch are written, and the interesting and important 

 historical results deduced from the interpretation of them, which have so 

 greatly contributed to raise the reputation of the Society among learned 

 bodies in Europe, the credit and the merit of the discovery being wholly 

 due to the late Mr. James Prinsep. 



It was suggested that on receipt of the bust of tuat lamented and dis- 

 tinguished man, the inscription now before the meeting, could not be bet- 

 ter placed in the museum of the Society that at the foot of the Pedestal, 

 which is io bear his effigy. 



For the presentations and contributions, the thanks of the Society were 

 accorded. 



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