18 10.] Asiatic Society. 1129 



1 brought some specimens, and found that those from near the surface did not bum 

 well, the other burned very well indeed, without a great deal of smoke, and leaving 

 an inconsiderable quantity of ashes." 



Read a letter from Mr. Secretary Bushby, of the 30th December 1840, enclosing 

 copy of a dispatch from the Honorable the Court of Directors, requesting that the 

 Asiatic Society will enable the Government to carry into effect the wishes of the 

 Honorable Court in respect to all Zoological and Entomological Collections deposited 

 in their Museum on the part of Government, or by persons conducting Missions on the 

 part of the Government. 



Resolved — That the papers be referred to the Officiating Curator for his Report. 



Read a letter from Professor Wilson, of 12th October 1840, offering copy of two 

 Lectures by him, on the religious belief and practices of the Hindoos. 



Read a letter of 16th May 1840, from the Secretary to the Society of Antiquaries of 

 London, forwarding the 28th vol. of Archeologia, for the use of the Library of the 

 Society. 



Read a letter from the late Lieut. W. Loveday to Lieut. Col. Stacy, with a 

 sketch by the deceased of the Etawah Chuttree (in the vicinity of Weemuch) and 

 copy of the inscription found there. 



Lieut. Loveday writes, " I have but little to add by way of information, merely 

 that returning one day from shooting, wearied and unsuccessful, I was much struck 

 with the elegant appearance of this Chuttree ; and resting under its shade, examined 

 with surprize, and no little gratification, the elaborate sculpture of the pillars, of one of 

 which I send you a separate sketch ; the date of the inscription (Sumbut 1130) 

 caught my eye, when I immediately transcribed the whole. I do not send you a 

 translation, as the Devee Nagree is clear and easily read, with the exception of two or 

 three words, which our Calcutta friends will soon rectify. The inscription is on an 

 upright stone slab, on the top of which are sculptured in alto-relievo, eight figures, 

 representing the Rajah and his seven wives, to whose memory the edifice has 

 been raised." 



Read a letter, dated Cabool 24th December 1840, from Capt. W, E. Hay, reporting 

 the loss of the whole of his fossil shells (sketches of which he had furnished) on the 

 retreat of the Shah's 4th Infantry from Bajgah, together with many other valuable 

 collections of coins and geological specimens, and all his drawings. Captain Hay adds, 

 however, that he had accumulated a number of others from Bokhara, Samerkand, 

 Balkh, &c. enclosing at the same time, some impressions of apparently ancient Hin- 

 doo coins. 



Read a letter from Lieut. Alex. Murray Macgueggr, of 31st January J84l, with 

 casts of coins intaglio. 



• He writes '* I have sent cast of a Jupiter seated on a throne, holding a 

 Minerva on the palm of his right hand, a sceptre occupies his left, and the Eagle is 



