916 Proceedings of the Society. [Oct. 



Having premised thus much, the President stated, that he should read 

 to the meeting Mr. James Prinsep's letter, placing the situation of Secre- 

 tary at their disposal : but as he had no doubt it would be the unanimous 

 feeling of the meeting to desire to retain Mr. Prinsep in official con- 

 nexion with the Society, he should not consider this letter as an absolute 

 resignation, but should propose a resolution, and submit arrangements 

 founded upon it, which would enable Mr. Prinsep to resume the office on 

 his return to India. 



The President then read the following letter : 



To the HorCble Sir Edward Ryan, Kt., President of the Asiatic Society. 

 Hon'ble Sir, 



Being compelled by ill-health to proceed to sea and eventually to Europe, I have 

 taken my passage on board the Herefordshire, with the intention of being absent 

 from the country for two, or perhaps three years. I am thus under the necessity of 

 placing at the disposal of the Society the situation of its Secretary, which I have 

 filled for five years. 



It is with great reluctance and regret that I thus separate myself from a body, with 

 whom I have been associated in labours of much interest and utility, whose favor 

 has encouraged my zeal, and through whose credit and reputation in the world, I 

 have obtained the means of making generally known my own humble efforts in the 

 cause of science, and my not unsuccessful endeavours to explore the antiquities of the 

 country, to whose service we are devoted. 



But the disability of sickness is an accident, to which we are all liable, and from 

 which there is no resource, but in temporary departure to a better climate. I am 

 thus compelled to leave my incomplete labours to be perfected by others ; and to 

 relinquish the place I have held iirahe Society, that provision may be made for its 

 competent discharge under the failure of my own power of longer rendering useful 

 service. 



I have the honor to be, &c. 

 1st November, 1838. (Signed) James Prinsep. 



Proposed by the President, seconded by Mr. Curnin, and unanimously 

 resolved, — That the resignation of Mr. James Prinsep be not accepted ; 

 but the Society hope that he will return to resume the situation of Secre- 

 tary, which he had filled so much to the credit of the Society for a period 

 of five years. 



Resolved,— That the President communicate to Mr. James Prinsep the 

 desire of the Society, that he shall not consider himself as having vacated 

 the situation of Secretary to the Society; and express the hope, that on his 

 return to India he will resume the situation of Secretary. 



That, during the absence of the Secretary, a temporary arrangement 

 be made for conducting the Secretary's duties, the same to cease upon his 

 return and resumption of the office. 



That, during the temporary absence of Mr. James Prinsep, the Rev. 

 Mr. Malan, Dr. O'Shaughnessy and Babu Ramcomul Sen be requested 

 to act as joint Secretaries of the Asiatic Society. 



That, for the purpose of carrying on the financial affairs of the Society, 

 a committee be appointed, consisting of the President, the Secretaries, and 

 Mr. W. P. Grant. 



That the Secretaries of the Society be requested to report, whether at 

 the expiration of the current year they are willing to carry on a new series 

 of the Journal of the Asiatic Society, and submit to the next meeting a plan 

 for that purpose. 



Mr. James Middleton, proposed at the last meeting, was balloted for 

 and duly elected a member of the Society. 



