1843.] Asiatic Society. 739 



is obtained not from rich ores, but from the poor ones approaching to this remarkable 

 mineral. 



Memoranda by the Secretary and President. 



I have the honor to lay before the Hon'ble the President, and the Members of the Committee of 

 Papers, the report of the Curator of our Museum of Economic Geology upon Major Ouseley's speci- 

 men of an Ore from Chota Nagpore. 



As the considerations contained in this report appear very sound and pertinent, I would submit 

 whether the Society would not do well in addressing Government to call special attention to them. 



How far such considerations might induce high authorities to propose attaching a practical mas- 

 ter miner to the Department of Economic Geology confided to our Society, I of course cannot 

 pretend to speculate upon ; but it is evident, that unless local experiment be entered upon, the 

 value of the ore in question as a profitable working ore can hardly be determined. 



As Mr. Piddington's reflections apply equally to all newly discovered Indian mining sites, the 

 employment of a professional miner on those of which we already know the existence, can alone 

 lead to practical results. 



H. TORRENS, 



29th July, 1843. Vice President and Secretary. 



A copy of Mr. Piddington's report should, I think, be forwarded to Government in reply to the 

 reference made to us on the subject. W. W. B. 



At the close of the Meeting, the Hon'ble the President and Members 

 were invited to view the tablet placed over the Asoka Stone, which we 

 may state is placed on a stand beneath the pillar destined for the bust of 

 the lamented James Prinsep. The tablet is one of pure white marble 

 occupying a frame above, the Stone ; and the inscription upon it in letters 

 of gold is as follows :— 



THIS EDICT OF ASOKA (B. C. 250) 



is here placed 



By the Asiatic Society of Bengal 



in honor of 



The Philosopher the Antiquarian 



and the Philologist 



by WHOM 

 ITS CHARACTERS WERE FIRST DECYPHERED 



JAMES PRINSEP. 

 The President and Members expressed their high approbation of this 

 arrangement, as a just tribute to the memory of their ever-to-be-lamented 

 Secretary and Associate. 



