1848.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 341 



reply to the comments upon his conduct as Curator, and that the same be laid 

 before the next meeting, through the Council, for consideration. 



The general sense of the meeting being that this proposition should 

 be decided by show of hands, it was put accordingly, and carried by a 

 large majority. 



Council of the Asiatic Society. (Honorary members.) 

 Dr. Falconer having represented to the President, and through him to the 

 Council, that the mode of electing an Honorary member adopted at the last 

 general meeting was irregular, inasmuch as it was decided by a show of hands 

 and not by ballot, pursuant to the 6th of the original rules adopted from the 

 Founder's discourse, by which it is decided that all questions shall be decided 

 on a ballot by a majority of two-thirds, the President and Council whilst 

 they express their thanks to Dr. Falconer for calling their attention to this 

 inconsistency between the practice and the rules of the Society, beg to state 

 that they have ascertained that for a period of eight years the election of 

 Honorary members, the election of officers,* and all other questions, have 

 been decided by a show of hands, and not by ballot. The President and the 

 Council are therefore of opinion that it would be inexpedient to reconsider 

 the election of any one or more of the Honorary members who have been 

 elected, or to open any question which has heen decided by a show of hands, 

 or by written votes. They are also of opinion that to decide every question 

 however trivial which may require the formal decision of the Society by a 

 ballot, would be extremely inconvenient, and they are therefore not inclined 

 to recommend the observance of rule 6th in its literal strictness. To meet 

 however the wishes of Dr. Falconer, and such other members as may agree 

 with him in thinking that the elections of Honorary members should be more 

 solemnly conducted than they have lately been, the President and Council do 

 recommend that in all future cases Honorary members be elected by ballot, 

 and that no such election take place unless a detailed statement of the literary 

 or scientific services of the proposed Honorary member be submitted to the 

 Society at the general meeting next previous to that fixed for the ballot. 



By resolution of the Council, 



W. B. O'Shaughnessy, 



Secretary. 

 Asiatic Society, o\st March, 1848. 



Dr. Falconer, with reference to the above communication, stated that 

 it overlooked the principal ground upon which his objection rested and 



* Except the last annuaFelcction, which was by written votes. 



