Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. — February, 1844. 

 (Tuesday, the&k February, 1844. J 



The Monthly Meeting of the Society was held on Tuesday the 6th of February, 

 at the usual hour. The Honourable The President in the chair. 



The Meeting was made special, to afford the Members an opportunity of express- 

 ing their sentiments on the departure of their old and talented associate B. H. 

 Hodgson, Esq. late Resident at Kathmandoo, who was to embark that evening 

 on board the Earl of Hardwicke. 



Before commencing the business of the evening, the Honourable the President 

 rose, and in the most feeling and impressive manner, addressed the Members to the 

 following effect : — 



" The daily Papers have informed you of the object of this Meeting, but it may be 

 necessary to explain why it has been made special, particularly as to-morrow is the 

 usual day, and it has been determined to adhere to that day except under very pe- 

 culiar circumstances. On the present occasion, the circumstances are such as to 

 make me feel confident that you will all concur in the propriecy of what has been 

 done. Mr. Hodgson sails to-morrow, and I am sure that there is not a Member here 

 present who would not have regretted the loss of the only opportunity we shall ever 

 have of seeing him in this place, and of testifying, as far as we are able, how highly 

 we are sensible of the credit which his labours and researches have reflected on the 

 Society. I am aware, that in alluding to them, I am causing to the distinguished 

 individual of whom I am speaking more pain than pleasure, but I hope he will for- 

 give me, for I feel that you would all consider me as ill discharging the duties of the 

 situation in which I have the honor to be placed, were I to allow such an occasion 

 as this to pass without referring to those labours and those researches in terms of 

 suitable acknowledgement, 



" I confess, however, that I am quite unable to speak of them as they ought to be 

 spoken of, but of their variety and extent, you may yourselves be able to form some 

 judgment, when you hear that Mr. Hodgson's contributions to the Transactions and 

 Journal of this Society alone, according to a paper which I hold in my hand, amount 

 to eighty-nine distinct papers.* This, however, is not the extent of the work ac- 

 complished by him. He has largely contributed to other scientific bodies as much 

 by the benefit of his correspondence as by his direct contributions, and in addition 



* See list in the following page. 



