xl Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [April, 1844. 



must pardon me, for I have felt myself unable to write a set-speech in anticipation of 

 this high honor now conferred, and I have therefore judged it best to trust to the spon- 

 taneous utterance of the heart, if I may so say, which sometimes by its truth gives 

 weight and dignity to even the sorry phrases of a speaker but little practised. 



Gentlemen, the first and most anxious desire of every man, who has in any sort ad- 

 dicted himself to literary pursuits, is the thirst for literary distinction. This I have 

 felt in common with thousands a thousand times better qualified to earn, and to de- 

 serve it, than I ever have been, or could ever be, but my position offered to me little 

 expectation of being at any time able to achieve it. The days are passed when men 

 engaged in this country as public servants, could without any dereliction of duty en- 

 joy the luxuries of lettered ease, and follow steadily up their literary labours, or their 

 plans of historical or scientific research, pari passu with the performance of their offi- 

 cial functions. The calls of office have greatly multiplied as was natural they should 

 do, with the extension and consolidation of the British power in this country, and the 

 enjoyment of that leisure which enabled a Jones, a Colebrooke, or a Wilford to enrich 

 our sum of knowledge by the valuable results of their researches, can be no longer 

 hoped for by those who have succeeded them. It may be said there were giants in 

 those days, and doubtless few have since appeared who could rival or compete 

 with the galaxy of able, and learned orientalists, whose labours in the early days of 

 this Society rendered its name illustrious in the scientific world of Europe, — who led 

 to the foundation of the Asiatic Societies of London and of Paris, — nay, more, who 

 brought about that taste for the study of Sanscrit literature, which in Germany parti- 

 cularly has led to discoveries in philology, and in the history of nations as traceable 

 thereby, not less invaluable than unexpected. 



In addition to the disadvantage above alluded to, I had in taking the office of your 

 Secretary, the discouraging example of what in this enervating climate over-exertion 

 in literary, combined with official labours, will effect, in the person of my esteemed and 

 lamented friend and predecessor, James Prinsep, Where such a mind was unequal to 

 support the strain, I felt how idle and absurd it would be in any one less qualified for the 

 struggle by varied ability, and copious information, to attempt to venture on it. I 

 therefore determined, instead of endeavouring at something new, to work out to the 

 best advantage, the unemployed and unillustrated treasures of our various collections, 

 and, conscious of my incapacity save in superficial attainments on a limited field, I 

 decided on attempting to obtain the services, and superintend the labours of men really 

 competent in distinct branches of science. Our then President, Sir Edward Ryan, 

 warmly supported my views, the local Government, to its honor be it spoken, came 

 forward with liberal and timely aid, while the Honorable the Court of Directors 

 consented to uphold us in that spirit of munificence which it has often evinced in 

 matters of science. Thus, Gentlemen, 1 found shortly afterwards associated with me, 

 our curators, Messrs. Piddington and Blyth, and while I laboured to convert the Jour- 

 nal, (then my property,) into a Journal of General Science in accordance with the 

 plan laid down by Sir William Jones on instituting this Society, instead of attempting 

 chiefly to work out in it the doubtful problems of antiquarian research,— while I was 

 occupied in procuring material for our Transactions,— in arranging and digesting our 

 records, and in providing for the printing and publication of Oriental works (and I more 



# 



