706 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Aucr. 



of franking its correspondence, which was accorded as for as regarded the 

 returns from public servants to the Secretary : the second for a specific 

 grant of funds for the prosecution of its inquiries ; this was refused under 

 the explanation that a reference from the Society for a grant for general 

 purposes was now on its way to the court, and that statistical inquiries 

 might be regarded as included therein. The Committee also recommend, 

 ed that they should be empowered to associate with themselves any friends 

 to statistical inquiry who might not be Members of the Society. 



The Secretary thought with submission that i lie Committee should have appli- 

 ed to the Society rather thau to the Government diiect, if they required pecuniary 

 or other aid -as a Committee their duty was to devise measures and collect 

 information, reporting thereon ; and the Society of course, on their nomination, 

 contemplated meeting any expences they might recommend as advisable in the 

 prosecution of their inquiries. With regard to postage he was happy that the 

 privilege had been accorded, but the indulgence seemed hardly consistent with 

 its uniform denial to the Society itself. 



Sir Benjamin Malkin, as chairman of the Committee, admitted that it 

 would have been more regular for the applications to Government to have been 

 made through the general body. The inadvertence arose solely from the idea of 

 the Society having no funds to spare, and this was also the reason for seeking to 

 incorporate associates with the Committee who might by separate subscription 

 meet all charges independently of any call on the general fund. He therefore 

 moved, 



That it be permitted to enrol parties who are not Members of the So, 

 ciety as associates of the Statistical Committee. 



After some discussion, in which the President instanced the parallel case of 

 the Physical Committee and its corresponding members. Mr. Macnaghten 

 moved an amendment, which was carried, 



That the question be adjourned to next meeting, and in the mean time 

 the opinion of the Committee of papers be requested. 



Read a letter from Capt. Sanders, Secretary of the Military Board, 

 forwarding various plans and estimates by Capt. E. Smith, Engineers, for 

 the erection of the ancient column at Allahabad, that the Society might 

 select the one considered by them the most appropriate. 



Col. P. McLeod, Capt. Forbes, Capt. Cunningham, and W. P. Grant, 

 Esq. were nominated a Committee to make the selection, or to suggest 

 modifications on Capt. Smith's design. 



Sir Edward Ryan, adverting to the ap, 'oaohing retirement of the Rev. Dr. 

 Mill to Europe, suggested to the Society the propriety of paying some com- 

 pliment to this distinguished scholar expressive of their feeling on the occasion. 

 He would not now expatiate on the Vice President's title to such a tribute, be* 

 cause if his proposition were adopted, this pleasing task would be more ably per- 

 formed and more appropriately conveyed in the name of the Society at large ; he 

 therefore moved first : 



That an address be presented to Dr. Mill, express! \ e of the loss which 

 the Society will sustain by the departure of a member so eminently quali- 

 fied by his profound knowledge of the languages of the east to aid and 

 assist in the objects and pursuits of the Society. 



Mr. W. H. Macnaghtes 7 had great pleasure in seconding any proposition to 

 do honor to Dr. Mill. In no member had greater erudition ever been witness- 

 ed, nor had any converted profound learning to uses calculated more to benefit 

 the country and to digui'y the study of oriental learning. Addresses had been 

 very rarely presented, but on such an occasion the practice would be more ho- 

 nored in the observance than in the breach. 



The motion being carried nem. con. was followed by a proposition from 

 the President, 



That Mr. W. H. Macnaghten, be requested to draw up the address, 

 to be presented to Dr. Mill, at the next regular meeting, or at a special ' 

 meeting should he be unable then to attend. 



