152 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society . [No. 2. 



Dr. Walker, with reference to the rules of the Society, read the fol- 

 lowing proposals : — 



1st. " That no alteration in the rules, nor any extraordinary 

 expense beyond (say) 500 Rupees, he sanctioned, except at the annual 

 meeting of the Society ; and that before any such questions are finally 

 decided, the Mofussil members, as well as those residing in Calcutta, 

 be called to vote on the same. 



" Before this proposition be carried into effect, it is desirable that 

 the rules of the Society should be made as perfect and complete as 

 possible, and that during the interval between each annual meeting, 

 the functions of the Society be solely administrative, it is therefore 

 proposed : — 



2nd. " That the Council of the Society be appointed to revise the 

 rules, and that these be carefully compared with the rules of similar 

 institutions in Europe, and that copies of the latter, if they are not 

 already in the library, be immediately sent for overland." H. W. 



" After a short discussion, Dr. Walker's proposition, supported by 

 Dr. O'Shaughnessy, was referred for consideration to the Council, who 

 were requested to act upon the 2d para, thereof, at their earliest con- 

 venience." 



The Council, in the Annual Report for the year 1848, mentioned 

 that they had caused letters to be written to Europe requesting to 

 have copies of the rules of other learned and scientific Societies, but 

 that the answers to those letters had not been received. 



No answers to those letters have now been received, but the Council 

 believe that there exist in Calcutta, including the excellent rules 

 which have lately been framed and submitted to the Agricultural 

 Society for its adoption, ample materials for the revisal of this Society's 

 rules — and that the revision of them should no longer be delayed. 



The Council however have not thought fit to take up this subject at 

 present, because they could not have completed the task before the 

 period which has now arrived, of the annual election of officers, when 

 they themselves are functione officii. 



The Council cannot disguise from themselves that the present state 

 of the Society is most unsatisfactory, especially in regard to the most 

 important of the Society's officers, that of Secretary — and to the 

 absence of a detailed report on the Society's affairs. 



