730 Asiatic Society. [No. 140. 



curing rare, or costly, or little known works, and from the want of those 

 recent ones which afford the knowledge of the current and hourly chang- 

 ing state of science at home; and that without such works it was most 

 unfair, as well as impossible, to expect that the duties of the Curators and 

 the Editorship of the Society's Journal could be conducted in a manner 

 fully creditable to the high reputation of the Society. He had therefore 

 presented this evening the following works for the inspection of the So- 

 ciety, and for purchase, if these views were approved of: — 



Cuvier, Histoire Naturellede Mammiferes. Paris, 1824, 8 vols. 

 Selby's British Ornithology, 2 vols. 



And he proposed farther, that upon lists being prepared by the Curators, 

 the purchase of such standard works as they may require be authorised. 



Some members expressed a wish, that some of the literary departments 

 of the Society's Library should also be better furnished, particularly those 

 relative to Oriental matters. After some conversation, the purchase of the 

 Penny Cyclopedia was authorised. Cuvier's Mammiferes was to remain 

 till the decision of the Committee of Papers was known, and Selby's Bri- 

 tish Ornithology being considered as nearly superseded by later and better 

 works of reference, was returned to the booksellers. It was farther agreed, 

 that a memorandum should be circulated to the Committee of Papers on 

 this subject. 



Read the following letter from the Secretary to the Government of Bom- 

 bay : — 



No. 1460 of 1843. 

 From the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, to H. Torrens, Esq., Secretary to the 

 Calcutta Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 

 Political Department. 

 Sib,— I am directed by the Hon'ble the Governor in Council, to acknowledge the receipt of your 

 letter, dated the 9th ultimo, and to inform you, that the 24 copies of the Vocabulary, by Captain 

 Eastwick, of the Scindee Language therewith forwarded, have been received by me. 



I have the honor to be, Sir, 



Your most obedient Servant, 

 L. R. Reid, 

 Bombay Castle, 26//« June, 1843. Chief Secretary to Government. 



No. 1625 of 1843. 



From the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, to H. Piddjngton, Esq., Sub-Secretary 

 Asiatic Society at Calcutta. 

 Political Department. ' 



Sir,— I am directed by the Hon'ble the Governor in Council, to acknowledge the receipt of your 

 letter, dated the 10th of May last, and to acquaint, you for the information of the Committee of the 

 Asiatic Society, that the packets which accompanied it, have been forwarded to Major Leech and 

 Captain Eastwick. I have the honor to be, Sir, 



Your most obedient Servant, 

 Bombay Castle, 15/// July, 1843. L. R. Reid, 



Chief Secretary. 



