lx Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [June, 1844. 



The following report was then read for the month of May Curator 

 Museum Economic Geology. 



Report of the Curator Museum of Economic Geology and Geological 

 and mlneralogical departments, for the month of may, 1844. 



Our recommendation to Government, that the site of the Lithographic stones dis- 

 Museum of Econo- co vere( l hy Captain Shortreed, as noticed in my reports of 

 mic Geology. November and December last, has it would appear, been for- 



warded to the Honorable the Governor of the N. W. Provinces, and in reference to 

 it, we have to place upon record, the following letter received from Captain Stewart, 

 B. N. I, Fort Adjutant, Chunar: — 



Copy, No. 462. 



From J. Thornton, Esq. Secretary to Government, N. W.P., to Captain Stewart, Fort Adjutant, 



Chunar. 



Sir, — I am desired to forward to you the accompanying copy of a letter from the Secretary 



General Department, Asiatic Society regarding Lithographic stones, said to have been 

 N. W. P. fQund neaJ . Rewahi 



2d. The Lieutenant Governor has been given to understand, that you have been already en- 

 gaged in inquiries regarding stones of this description in the neighbourbood of the Soane, and will 

 feel glad if you can undertake to prosecute the search which Captain Shortreed has indicated. 

 Any moderate sum which you may consider necessary to enable you successfully to conduct the 

 inquiry, will be immediately placed at your disposal. I have, &c. &c. &c. 



(Signed) J. Thornton, 

 (True Copy,) Secretary to Government, N. W. P. 



Agra, the 13th May, 1844. W. M. Stewart. 



To J. Thornton, Esq. Secretary to the Government N. W. P., Agra. 



Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 462 of 13th instant, for- 

 warding for my information a copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Asiatic Society to the 

 Secretary to Government of India, Home Department, regarding the possibility of obtaining sup- 

 plies of stone fit for Lithographic purposes from the Rewah State, and communicating the wishes 

 of the Lieut. Governor, that I should undertake to prosecute the search. 



In reply, I have the honor to state, that I shall have great pleasure in meeting the wishes of the 

 Lieut. Governor, and have no doubt from the discoveries already made, coupled with the informa- 

 tion contained in Mr. Torrens's letter, of being able to accomplish the desired end. 



I shall with his permission place myself in immediate communication with Mr Torrens, forward 

 for his inspection specimens of stones from situations where they have already been discovered, 

 and obtain from him such further information as may enable me to follow up the discovery 

 already made by Capt. Shortreed. 



Specimens of genuine white lias, exactly corresponding in appearance with the best German 

 stone, have already been procured from the bed of the Soane river, at a place situated between fiO 

 and 60 miles S. W. of Chunar. The experiments made with them failed, owing to the softness and 

 friable nature of the stones submitted for trial, which were unable to resist the pressure applied 

 to them. They were however quarried from the surface, and as Mr. Torrens remarks that the 

 best German stone is usually found with beds of inferior quality both above and below, I feel 

 assured that a little expenditure in digging deeper will lead to the discovery of the proper kind. 



I shall forward a contingent bill to you for the sanction of the Lieut. Governor, for any small 

 expences that may be incurred in making the researches, and have to request, that you will 



