215 



Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 



( Wednesday Evening, 6th May, 1840. J 



The Honorable Sir E. Ryan President, in the chair. 



Read the Proceedings of the last Meeting. 



The President read the following letter addressed to him by Dr. O'Shaughnessy, 

 stating that in consequence of the pressure of other business, he was reluctantly 

 obliged to resign the office of Officiating Secretary to the Institution, and at the 

 same time informed the meeting that Mr. Sutherland who undertook to co-operate 

 as Joint-Secretary in the Oriental department during the temporary absence of Mr. 

 J. Prinsep also wished to be relieved. He therefore wished to be relieved. 



To the Honorable Sir Edward Ryan, 



President of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, <SfC. §c. 

 Sir, — I beg you will have the goodness at the next Meeting of the Asiatic Society 

 to submit my respectful request to be relieved from the duties of acting Secretary. 

 My time is so much occupied by engagements which I cannot neglect, that the general 

 business of the Society must fall into confusion if allowed to remain any longer in my 

 charge. Under such circumstances the best proof I can give of my anxiety for the 

 prosperity of the Society, is by retiring from the honorable office they conferred upon 

 me, at a time when there is fortunately no difficulty in finding at the Presidency 

 individuals qualified in every respect to discharge the duties of the appointment. 



Any aid I can afford in the Physical Department, and as a Collaborateur in the 

 continuance of the Journal, I am most willing to give, so long as the Society may have 

 the least occasion for my humble assistance. 



x I have the honor to be, Sir, 



Calcutta, Your obedient servant, 



6th May, 1840. W. B. O'SHAUGHNESSY. 



Resolved— That the resignations tendered on behalf of Dr. O'Shaughnessy 

 and Mr. J. C. C. Sutherland, of the situations of Joint-Officiating Secretaries of 

 the Asiatic Society, be accepted; and that the offer of Mr. H. Torrens to undertake 

 the duties of Officiating Secretary, during the illness and absence of Mr. James 

 Prinsep, be cordially agreed to. 



Resolved— That the thanks of the Society be given to Dr. O'Shaughnessy and 

 Mr. J. C. C. Sutherland for their zealous and able services, and for the assistance 

 they have rendered to the Society in the management of its correspondence, in the 

 conduct of the Journal of the Society, and in the promotion of its scientific and 

 literary objects, during the period of their performance of the duty of Secretaries. 



Read the Proceedings of the Committee of Papers, in which is noticed the 

 applications received for the office of Curator. The Committee recommend that Mr. 

 Assistant Surgeon Thompson be selected to officiate in the office. 



Resolved— That the recommendation of the Committee be adopted. 



Mr. J. G. Grant brought to the notice of the Committee, that he accidentally had 

 been made aware of the existence of printed Catalogues of the Society's Library, and 

 suggested that the Catalogues and Appendices should be circulated amongst the Mem- 

 bers as revised and printed. Mr. Grant's suggestion was adopted. 



