1847.] Report. 89 



2. — Model of a Chinese Plough, Donor — Major Edie, H. M.'s. 98th Regt. 



3. — Chinese arithmetical table, Donor — Major Edie. 



4. — Model of a Chain Pump used by the Natives of China, and adapted both for 



manual and cattle labour, Donor — Major Edie. 



For all the above communications and donations to the Society the 

 thanks of the meeting were unanimously voted. 



Dr. W. B. O'Shaughnessy exhibited specimens of explosive paper 

 exactly like talc, prepared by dissolving the gun cotton in Sulphuric 

 ether, and allowing the solution to evaporate spontaneously. He de- 

 scribed also some singular electrical properties manifested by this 

 paper. 



REPORT. 



At a meeting of the Asiatic Society held on the 13th of January, 

 1847, the following Report on the Society' s affairs was read and 

 received, and directed to be printed, for distribution to the resident 

 members, prior to the discussion at the February meeting of the several 

 propositions it contains. 



In compliance with the desire expressed by several members of the 

 Society at the December meeting, the Secretaries, on the part and with 

 the concurrence of the Committee of Papers, submit a succinct report 

 on the state of the Society's affairs, and of the views of the Committee 

 regarding the measures they deem best calculated to uphold its charac- 

 ter and promote its utility. 



The Society at present numbers 136 members, of whom 17 were 

 admitted during the last year. No record exists of the withdrawals, 

 deaths or other casualties by which the number of members has been 

 reduced, a deficiency the Committee of Papers point out as one which 

 the Secretaries should in future supply. 



Of the 136 members there are not more than 100 who contribute 

 with regularity to the Society's income. Two members have recently 

 claimed exemption from the payment of subscription on the grounds of 

 having been on the list for 20 years. As much doubt exists as to the 

 expediency of admitting this claim for exemption, the Committee recom- 

 mend the subject to the immediate consideration of the Society at large. 

 The Committee of Papers and Office-bearers as appointed in March 

 1846, consisted of — 



