1138 Asiatic Society. [No. 107. 



not apply to the Jami al Tawarikh. Tabari lived a thousand years ago ; and Rashid 

 al Din finished his history only as far back as a little more than half that period. 

 That the J ami al Tawarikh is really and truly what it purports to be, viz, the author's 

 own copy, written under his own inspection, I have not the least reason to doubt, as I 

 have seen manuscripts of an older date in as good a state of preservation. Should any 

 of your readers feel sceptical on this point, they may easily satisfy themselves by 

 carefully examining the hand-writing and paper, and comparing the same with others 

 of the corresponding era." 



D. F. 



The Secretary noticed that he had made inquiries through friends in the North- 

 Western Provinces to procure a copy of this highly valuable work, and had intimation of 

 the existence of a copy of the 1st vol. in Arabic said to be at Lahore. He however 

 believed that his correspondent (a native bookseller at Delhi) possessed the work him- 

 self. He had made some exertions to ascertain the condition of the volume, which he 

 subsequently gave up. 



The Secretary communicated the intelligence of the discovery of papers of value 

 among certain MSS. volumes which were deposited with the late Mr. James 

 Prinsep's books at the Society's Rooms. They consisted chiefly of MSS. of 

 Capt. Herbert, the greater part of which were notes Astronomical, Chemical, and Geolo- 

 gical, together with results of his Himalaya Survey, observations which was thought 

 not to have been published. At any rate it was incumbent on the Society, thought 

 the Secretary, to examine these papers carefully by a Sub-Committee ; agreeably to 

 that suggestion, Major Forbes, Professor O'Shaughnessy, and Lieut. Broome 

 were requested to aflfbrd their valuable aid on the occasion. The Secretary further 

 reported that among some old records of the Physical Class, Asiatic Society, were found 

 several Catalogues of Minerals in the Museum, supposed to have been lost, of the 

 collections by Coulthard, Rose, Streave, &c. &c. 



The Secretary reported to the Meeting that some months ago he had communicated 

 with Mr. W. C. Hurry, on the subject of a Chinese Dictionary compiling by 

 the Rev. J. M. Callery, and that he had requested from that gentleman certain 

 documents connected with the undertaking. These were now received, and sub- 

 mitted. It was resolved, that these should be referred to the Committee of Papers for 

 consideration and report. 



Read letter from Mr. J. Avdall, of the 5th March 1841, forwarding for presen- 

 tation to the Asiatic Society, a copy of his *' Victoria Spelling Book," in Armenian, 

 divided into two parts, and embellished with 24 engravings. 



Read the following report submitted by the Officiating Curator for the month of 

 February last:— 



