May, 1845.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. xlvii 



Read the following memorandum and letters : — 



Memorandum. 

 The Secretary has to transmit two letters from the Baron Van Hoevell, and Baron 

 de Carnbee (the latter gentleman being now in Calcutta) touching the establishment of 

 a correspondence between our Society and that of Batavia. 



I propose being authorised to send an acknowledgment of the books received, a series, 

 as far as available, of the Journal, and the vols, of the Researches available for distribu- 

 tion, with a letter of thanks, and reciprocrating wish to correspond. 



If Messrs. Piddington and Blyth would draw each of them a note of objects in natural 

 science desirable for our Museum from Java, with a request that we in our turn may be 

 instructed from Batavia in like manner, these would materially add to the value of my 

 letter. 



I have seen the Baron de Carnbee, and have come to a most satisfactory understand- 

 ing as to the footing on which the Societies would correspond. 



H. Torrens, 

 Vice-President and Secretary, Asiatic Society. 



The Curators are requested to peruse the accompanying note and letters, and to put 

 in a brief statement of the desiderata from Batavia in their several departments, which I 

 can send down cvith my letter to the Society there. I have ascertained from Baron de 

 Carnbee that English will be a convenient language of correspondence. 



The Curators may state generally what duplicates or sets of duplicates they hold ready 



to transmit. 



The Batavian Society are rich in Volcanic specimens. 



H. Torrens. 



Vice-President and Secretary, Asiatic Society. 



A Monsieur II . Torrens, Secretaire de la Societe Asiatique a Calcutta, etc. 



Mon cher Monsieur, — Je me rappelle avec plaisir notre entrevue d'hier. L'interet 

 que vous manifestiez au developpement et progres dela Societe Scientifique a Batavia, 

 causera je vous en donne l'assurance, la plus grande satisfaction a tous les membres, 

 et moi je me felicite de pouvoir leur communiquer 1' heureux resultat de mes demarches. 

 Sir Stamford Raffles, pendant plusieurs annees president de notre Societe, disait dans 

 un de ses discours : " The objects of the Asiatic Society in Calcutta are so fully explain- 

 ed in the discourse of Sir William Jones, that it is unnecessary to enter into any explana- 

 tion of them here. The researches of that Society are not confined immediately to West- 

 ern India ; they extend throughout the whole regions of Asia. The whole circle and the 

 wide field of Asia are alike open to your observations, but it occurs to me, that the 

 interests and objects of the Institution will be more advantageously promoted by its 

 exertions being directed to what falls more immediately within your reach, &e." 



J'espere que vous partagerez mon intime conviction qu'une correspondance reguliere 

 et continue, contribuera a servir efficacement le but de nos Societes reciproques. 



J'ai eu l'honneur de vous faire voir quelques ouvrages recemment publies a Batavia. 

 Vous m'obligeriz d'accepter de ma part pour votre Societe un exernplaii'e du : " Cata- 

 logus Plantarum in Horto Botanico Bogoejensi ; auctore J. C. Haskarl, 1844," et un 

 exemplaire du :" — " Natuur und Geneeskundig Archief voor Neerlands Indie" (Archive 

 pour les Sciences natui*elles et medicales des Indes Neerlandaises 1st Annee 1844.) 



Avant mon depart de Calcutta j'ecrirai a Monsieur le Baron van Ijboevcll (President 

 de notre Societe) qui vous offrira d'autres publications entre autres le " Tydschrift voor 



