1837.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 803 



and illustrate a most classical and important part of the history of this country. 

 I beg my friend the Secretary's pardon for talking thus of disadvantages ; for it 

 appears almost urjgracious to notice what, however enchancing, as it does, the emi- 

 nent inductive sagacity that he has displayed in his discovery, might seem also 

 to derogate from the universality of his varied and extensive knowledge. I would 

 not have mentioned them — had I not been convinced that he needs but the will, 

 if he could find the leisure, to rid himself entirely of them. I know at least that 

 if he could bend his thoughts that way, he needs far less time than most men to 

 add a critical knowledge of the learned languages of the country, so auxiliary to 

 his successful researches in the coins and monuments of India, — to the many other 

 distinguished merits which have made his Journal of our Society, even in his sole 

 portion of it, the object of attention to literary Europe. Of his value as a Se- 

 cretary, I cannot possibly say more than that he has caused even the loss of the 

 transcendent merits of Wilson to cease to be thought irreparable by us. 



My business, however, as I must not forget, is not to express my sense of the 

 merits of other Officers of this Society, (however incidentally forced on my notice 

 in this instance,)— but to acknowledge your kind opinion of myself and to accede 

 thankfully to the proof of it contained in your parting request to me. To be 

 associated in this manner in the remembrance of this Society with its illustrious 

 founder, and the many others whose contributions have conferred ornament and 

 dignity on its proceedings, — is what I cannot suffer even my sense of comparative 

 unworthiness to prevent esteeming a great source of gratification. To you, Mr. 

 President, who have so long added to the duties of your high station in this set- 

 tlement, a zealous and able administration of the affairs of this Society, — as well 

 as to your colleague in both these respects, of whom, being now absent, (as 1 

 regret to perceive,) from illness, I may speak with more freedom, — as one whose 

 distinguished scientific and literary attainments add lustre to his other excellent 

 qualities, — I am well pleased to leave this token of recollection of myself, whose 

 friendship with both was begun in the academic associations of a far different clime 

 from this, in which again I hope we may yet meet. To the other very learned 

 and able Vice-Presidents, and to all, whether countrymen or natives of In- 

 dia, who may be led to take interest in the works you have mentioned with 

 such marked approbation, — I am glad to present, when absent, some memento 

 of my endeavours, such as they are, to instruct or to aid them. Once more, 

 Gentlemen, I thank you for your kind sentiments towards me, and bid you most 

 heartily farewell. 



(Signed) W. II. MILL. 



Resolved, on the motion of Mr. W. Cracroft, that the address and the 

 reply be entered in the outcoming volume of the Researches. 



The president moved that all farther business be adjourned to the next 

 meeting. 



The Secretary however ere he closed his boxes begged to be allowed to men- 

 tion one subject of their contents, that he could not allow himself to withhold 

 from his friend Dr. Mill, after the warm interest he had just evinced in the pro- 

 gress of the investigations upon which he had lately been engaged. A letter just 

 received from the eminent Pali scholar Mr. TuRNOURgave confirmation the most 

 unequivocal to the supposition just expressed by the learned Vice-President that 

 the lats were monuments of the classical age of Indian history. Mr. Tdrnour 

 had proved from an ancient Pali work that Piyadasi was no other than the great 

 Asoka himself, who reigned paramount over India in the third century before 

 the Christian era. [The communication is printed in a preceding page.] 



Neither could he allow himself to sit down on this last opportunity of enjoying 

 Dr. Mill's society without shewing him what would nearly interest him in an 

 equal degree, the fruit of Captain Burnes's researches on the Indus, the first 

 Sanskrit monument we had seen from the neighbourhood of Kabul — a transcript 

 of a mutilated inscription from Hund, 20 miles above Attack. — Capt. Burnes had 

 left the white marble slab on which it was engraved at Pesfiawer awaiting the 

 Society's instructions. He hoped by the next meeting to give a further account 

 of it. 



The members present then shook hands with Dr. Mill, and the meeting 

 adjourned. 



