cxxviii Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Nov. 1844. 



Should you discover that the stone contains matter of no greater import than the one 

 discovered by Mr. Pickwick, you must forgive me on the score of ignorance. 



Should however, the contrary be the case, I shall have much pleasure in sending 

 the Society by the first opportunity some more slabs, &c. which were shewn me 

 buried in the earth near a village, about 12 miles hence. The village is full of old 

 temples, &c. and I shot a snake near one of them, upwards of 17 feet long, but I 

 regret than its skin was so much injured as not to be worth the keeping. 



Jessore, Monday 30th. Edward H. Lushington. 



The inscription consists of excerpts from the third chapter of the 

 Koran, called the Imran, selected, as the Secretary observed, with special 

 reference to the character of the majority of the early frequenters of 

 the mosque in which it must have been placed, who as new converts to 

 Islamism, are exhorted by texts declaratory of the corrupting influence of 

 idol worship, declarations of the Majesty and power of the one God, and 

 denunciations against unbelievers, to avoid relapsing into religious error. 

 A copy was ordered to be sent to Mr. Lushington, with the best thanks of 

 the Society. 



Read the following letter from Dr. McGowan, of the Ningpho Hospital, 

 with a translation of the impression taken from one of the compartments 

 of the great bell presented to the Bishop of Calcutta by Captain Warden, 

 see Journal Asiatic Society, Proceedings for May 1844. 



The Secretary remarked upon the curious evidence given in the lists of 

 titles, offices, and distinctions thus perpetuated in metal, of the high value 

 attached by the Chinese to honorary distinctions for literary and official 

 merits. 



H. Torrens, Esq., V. P. Asiatic Society of Bengal, 5fc. 



Dear Sir, — I send the accompanying Translation for the Bengal Asiatic Society, 

 regretting that it is not of greater value. 



Should the Society send me the remainder of the inscription on the Bell, so that 

 it will reach me without a heavy postage, I shall feel happy in furnishing them a 

 complete translation. 



Willing to promote the great objects of this parent institution as far as I can in 

 this remote theatre of its operations, 



1 remain, 



Your's truly, 



Hongkong, 29th August, 1844. D. J. Maccowan. 



