1837.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society^ 613 



public institution, the government would be disposed to sanction a monthly grant 

 of 200 Rupees, the actual sum which is now obliged to be withdrawn from this 

 object, on account of other calls on the Society's funds. 



And secondly, whether (in order to avoid unnecessary loss of time) the Govern- 

 ment would entrust the Society with a certain sum, say not exceeding 800 Rupees 

 per mensem, to be expended in the accumulation of antiquities, manuscripts, and 

 objects of natural history and science ; on the condition that, in the event of the 

 Honorable Court's declining their sanction to the Society's proposal, the whole of 

 the objects thus collected shall be placed at the disposal of Goveimment in acquit- 

 tance of the money advanced. 



I have the honor accordingly to request that you will be pleased to obtain the 

 sentiments of His Lordship in Council on these modifications of the original pro- 

 position to which it is hoped there will be the less objection, because it is known 

 that the Honorable Court has an extensive and valuable museum and library to 

 which such an accession cannot but prove acceptable. 



I have the honor to be, &c. 

 Asiatic Society's Apartments,'] (Signed) James Prinsep, 



Calcutta, 10th July, 1837. J Secy. Asiatic Society. 



To James Prinsep, Esq. 



Secretary to the Asiatic Society. 

 Sir, 



I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 10th instant, 

 submitting further propositions connected with the condition of the funds of the 

 Society and its resort to Government for aid in maintaining the museum of antiqui- 

 ties and natural history already commenced, and in reply to state that the Right 

 Honorable the Governor General of India in Council sanctions, pending the reference 

 on the subject intended to be made to the Honorable the Court of Directors, the 

 payment of 200 rupees per mensem for the establishment and expences necessary to 

 keep up the existing museum and library of the Asiatic Society. Orders will accord- 

 ingly be issued for the payment of this amount monthly from the 1st proximo to the 

 receipt of tuc Secretary of the Asiatic Society. 



2. With respect to the further request urged on the part of the Society, viz. 

 that the Governor General of India in Council will allow the sum of 800 rupees per 

 mensem to be held applicable to the purchase of objects of curiosity or antiquarian 

 interest, the Society being under obligation to account for the expenditure of the 

 money, and to deliver the articles provided for transfer to the Honorable Court's 

 museum in London if so ordered. His lordship in Council feels compelled to decline 

 to make any specific appropriation of funds to such objects on the terms stated, 

 but he will be ready to receive from the Society recommendations for the purchase 

 or other procurement of objects of more than common interest of which the Society 

 may receive information, and fer the obtainment of which it may want the necessary 

 funds. 



3. His Lordship in Council desires it to be understood however that the objects 

 for which the aid of Government funds may be solicited, ought not to be of a perish- 

 able nature — the utility of collecting such in a climate like that of Bengal being in the 

 opinion of his Lordship in Council very doubtful. 



I am, &c. 

 Council Chamber, \ H. T. Prinsep, 



26th July, J 837. / Secy, to Govt. 



A member inquired what the Committee of Papers proposed doing with the 

 government grant, the Secretary explained that as the money had been asked for 

 a specific object, he concluded it would be at once devoted to the payment of the 

 museum contingent. 'The Curator was, itis true, about to quit Calcutta, but as that 

 officer's resignation was not yet before the meeting, he should defer making any motion 

 with regard to the disposal of the grant (the acceptance of which he confessed went 

 exceedingly against his own feelings of the dignity of the Society) until a future oc- 

 casion. 



Some copies of the third volume of the Mahdbhdrata just completed were 

 laid on the table. The printer's bill for this volume (500 copies, 850 pages) 

 amounted to Rupees 3,693 13. 



Library. 



Colebrooke's Miscellaneous Essays, 2 vols. — presented on the part of the late 

 author. 



Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Vol. XIII. Part 2nd, 1836, also 

 Journals of Proceedings— presented by the Society. 



4 K 



