Report. iii 



on the occasions of the evening meetings. The cost of the furniture it 

 is gratifying to add, has been chiefly provided by the liberal donations 

 of a few members of the Society, and has entailed only a charge of Rs. 

 336 on their general funds. 



The financial crisis of 1848 rendered it impracticable to proceed with 

 the plans for erecting a Sculpture Gallery and Lecture-Room, and for pro- 

 viding lectureships, as suggested in the Annual Report for 1847. Nor 

 does the present period appear favorable for the introduction of these 

 important measures, which the Council still hope are only postponed to 

 more prosperous times. 



Oriental Department. 



The marked feature in this department is the commencement of the 

 " Bibliotheca Indica" on the plan suggested by the Vice President, Mr. 

 Laidlay, and which has already elicited the approbation of Professor 

 Wilson, M. Burnouf, and the leading philologists of Germany. Next 

 in importance is the liberal remission on the part of the Hon'ble the 

 Court of Directors of the heavy claims to which the Society had be- 

 come liable for the misapplication of the Oriental Grant from 1841 to 1847. 



Natural History. The Sections, &c. 



In the Department of Natural History, the Council have to record 

 their grateful sense of the indefatigable exertions of the Section of 

 Natural History, who have met weekly in the Museum during the whole 

 year, and under whose directions in a few months more the Council feel 

 assured that the Zoological Museum will be arranged and displayed in 

 a manner worthy of the scientific reputation of the Society, and of the 

 munificent aid afforded by Government to this department of their 

 labours. The Council record with much regret that notwithstanding 

 the zealous exertions of the Section no Catalogue has been as yet pro- 

 vided of the Collections in this department. 



On the subject of the Sections generally the Council are of opinion 

 that their appointment has been attended with great advantage to the 

 Society ; they propose that the present members be re-elected for the 

 ensuing year. 



The Library has been enriched by the acquisition of 474 volumes, 

 the Museum by numerous and very valuable additions since the last 

 Annual Report. 



