xxxii Proceedings of tlie Asiatic Society. [April, 1844. 



2. It appears to me that there can be no objection to placing these very valuable 

 Manuscripts and Drawings in the custody of the Asiatic Society, until such time as that 

 Society shall have completed their publication or copies of them. But I think it 

 should be understood, that this institution is the proper place of their permanent deposit, 

 it being that of the Manuscripts and Drawings of Dr. Roxburgh, as it ought to be of 

 those of all other Superintendents.* In this manner only can the series be kept com- 

 plete, and each series can in this manner only guide Government to an opinion of the 

 relative merits of the Superintendents it permits to hold this high scientific appoint- 

 ment. To this the almost entire inaccessibility alluded to in the Secretary's letter 

 cannot be objected, that assuredly was never contemplated by Government, and has 

 not existed since 1836, when it was removed by Dr. McClelland, and Government 

 having shewn its anxiety to secure ready publication of documents, it assuredly can- 

 not again be restored. 



3. It would have been very desirable that this application had been made to Govern- 

 ment when the fact of the Drawings and Manuscripts being here was first made known. 

 For since that, I believe, the Society has been the means of making known zoological 

 labours which would, had the Society's attention then been attracted prominently to 

 these Manuscripts, &c. have been found to have been anticipated by Dr. Buchanan. 

 The Society at this period cannot attach priority to the works of Buchanan. 



4. It also appears to me desirable, that if Government decides on lending these 

 Manuscripts and Drawings to the Society, it should be on the engagement proffered by 

 the Society in the last paragraph of the Secretary's letter, and in exclusion of para- 

 graph 2d, otherwise a stigma will be attached to this institution, which, as it is a 

 public institution of Government, endowed in a liberal manner, and presumably 

 superintended in a liberal and open manner, it cannot in se be considered to merit. 



5. Pending the receipt of his Honor's final instructions, I shall construct a complete 

 catalogue of the Manuscripts and the Drawings to be retained here for the information 

 of Government. 



I have, &c. 

 Honorable Company's Botanic Garden, (Signed) W.Griffith, 



1 3th February, 1844. Offg. Superintendent. 



(True Copy,) A. Turnbull, 



Under-Secretary to the Government of Bengal. 



The Secretary called the attention of the Meeting to the alteration 

 which had been made in the height of the pedestals on which the busts 

 were placed ; three of them having been reduced and the busts placed 

 upon them for inspection. The alteration was approved of. 



* We doubt much if Dr. Buchanan was ever a Superintendent of the H. C. Bota- 

 nic Garden ? -Ed. 



