June, 1844.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. lvii 



It is in tolerable preservation, though none of the grapnel claws are remain- 

 ing. It measures six feet in length, but the circumference cannot be as- 

 certained, as it is covered over with shells and an arenaceo-calcareous in- 

 crustation. It may have belonged to some European or Arab Vessel a 

 century or more ago, and have possibly been elevated with the beach on 

 which it was found. It cannot have belonged to the people by whom 

 the gold coins were struck, for those betoken far too rude a state of the 

 arts to admit of such a bar of iron having been forged, or been in use on 

 a ship at the epoch when such coins were used. 



Read the following letter from Baboo Gooroprasad Roy : — 



The Secretary to the Asiatic Society. 



Sir, — I have to beg that you will do me the honor to submit to the Asiatic Society, the accom- 

 panying specimen pages in type and Manuscript of a Sanscrit Dictionary in the Bengallee cha- 

 racter, to be entitled the Sobda Rutnakar, and which will I presume be found of the greatest utility 

 to Native Students of that language, and of much interest to Philologists and Scholars in general. 

 In testimony of its merits, I further beg leave to submit the opinions of itjhereto annexed, both from 

 Native Pundits and European gentlemen of high and acknowledged talent. The MSS. is com- 

 pleted, and can be sent to press. 



Your Society, Sir, cannot but be aware that a work like this, though it has cost many years of assi- 

 duous labour, cannot be printed without a heavy outlay which I am, from straitened circumstances, 

 unable to afford. The most careful estimates which I can make, supported by the opinion of Dr. 

 Haeberlin, carry the expence of the work to Co's. Rs. 8,000 for 500 copies, requiring a subscription 

 of 160 copies at 50 Rs. each, to assure the Printer against loss. 



I have therefore, Sir, respectfully to solicit that the Asiatic Society of Bengal will be pleased to 

 accord to me such measure of patronage and support and recommendation as they may deem my 

 labours to merit, and I beg to assure it, that no attention on my part shall be wanting to render the 

 work by care, while passing through the press, creditable to its support. 



I have the honor to be, Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



Guruprasad Roy. 



This letter was accompanied by certificates from various European 

 Orientalists and Native Pundits in favour of the work. The Sub-Secretary 

 stated, that the work had been brought to his notice by a learned Native 

 friend, and one of the oldest members of the Society, who was also himself 

 author of by far the most valuable Bengalee and English Dictionary 

 which had yet appeared, Dewan Ramcomul Sen, and that desirous that the 

 author of the Sobda Ratnakar should appear before the Societv, with a 



