1843.] Asiatic Society. 1015 



2. The reasons which, upon mature consideration, have induced the Society to 

 submit to Government its opinion of the propriety of this measure, are briefly the 

 following : — 



I. The extreme interest with which phenomena of this kind are regarded by the 

 learned in Europe, on account of their close connection with many questions both of 

 speculative and even of practical science. 



II. Their importance in a maritime point of view, as connected with the appearance 

 and disappeai'ance of shoals in many seas. 



III. The occurrence of the phenomenon, so to say, at our own doors; whence it 

 would be hardly creditable to the British name, were not the fullest investigation of it 

 to take place, and be given to the world. It is barely necessary to allude to the high 

 approbation which will on the other hand be accorded to the Government of India, if 

 this is fully, efficiently, and creditably done, so as to satisfy the just expectations of the 

 scientific world in Europe. 



IV. Many other scientific, geological, and even national considerations might be 

 adduced here, which the Society doubts not will readily suggest themselves upon 

 mature consideration; but passing over these, it would farther advert to the financial 

 and commercial interest attached to the discovery of a rich ore of Copper in this 

 hitherto unknown locality, when its proximity to the mountains of the Aeng Pass, and 

 other considerations are borne in mind; and (though fully aware that such views and 

 the hopes derived from them are often fallacious,) it is evident that these are neither 

 few nor unimportant. 



V. The Society would moreover respectfully submit, that in the establishment of a 

 Museum, (that of Economic Geology,) for the express purpose of aiding in every way 

 the developement of the mineral resources of India, the Honorable the Court of Di- 

 rectors would almost seem to have anticipated that cases like the present would arise, 

 and to have virtually expressed its desire that no such opening for the advancement of 

 general knowledge, or the possible advantage of the state should be left unexplored : 

 and this the more especially, when it occurs so near to the metropolis. 



VI. The Society feels that the institution of the Museum of Economic Geology 

 entrusted to their charge, under the immediate Superintendence of an Officer under 

 their orders, but whose salary is at the public charge, entitles the Government to iden- 

 tify itself, when occasion offers, with those who voluntarily seek in these times the 

 general advancement of science, and the benefit of India; and the Society would there- 

 fore, from a feeling of duty, abstain from any other course than that of informing th e 

 Supreme authority, that an opportunity existed for the practical exercise of means 

 tending to elucidate questions of much interest and importance. 



3. Impressed with these considerations, and with many more which the Society will 

 not for brevity's sake, or cannot from its position, intrude upon the attention of 

 Government, it has carefully made such preliminary enquiry as might obviate loss of 

 time should the present recommendation be adopted; and the results of these is, that 

 the services of Mr. Stephen Mornay, a gentleman who has received a regular scientific, 

 geognostical, and practical Mining education, who holds a diploma from the Royal 

 Mining College of Saxony, with other credentials of the most satisfactory kind, and 

 who is also well known in Calcutta as a person of an enterprising, persevering, and 

 energetic character, are available on a salary of Co's. Rs. 400 per mensem for whole 

 months, or 150 Co's. Rs. per week for broken periods, and 3 Rs. per diem for his tra- 



