cxxiv Proceedings of the Asiatic Society . [Dec. 1845. 



The Secretary reported that the staircase having been attacked by white ants, he had 

 deemed it necessary to have the casing stripped off, and as a part of it was sinking he 

 had farther, under the advice of Colonel Forbes and Mr. Mornay, had it properly raised ; 

 but as the placing of an Iron pillar for support at each angle would have been expensive 

 he had at the suggestion of the Sub-secretary and with Colonel Forbes' approval, taken 

 two of the sandstone Hindoo Pillars from the portico, to use as props, for which they 

 answered perfectly and were not the less favourably exhibited as antiquities. 



Read the following letters from the Secretary to the Government of 

 India : 



No. 2821 of 1845. 



From G. A. Bushby, Esq., Offg. Secretary to the Government of India. 



To H. Torrens, Esq., Vice President and Secretary Asiatic Society, of Fort William, 

 the 15th November, 1845. 



Foreign Depatment. 



Sir, — I am directed to request that you will convey to the Asiatic Society the thanks 

 of His Honor the President in Council for the 100 copies of Lieutenant Postans' transla- 

 tion of the Toofut ul Kiram, a history of Scinde, which accompanied your letter of the 

 7th Instant to my address. 



G. A. Bushby, 

 Offg. Secretary to the Government of India. 

 Fort William, the 15th Nov. 1845. 



Read the following letter from the Secretary to the Araratian Society : 



H. Torrens, Esq., Secretary, Asiatic Society. 



Sir, — I am directed by the Committee of the Araratian Society to own receipt of your 

 letter of the 20th ultimo, and to request your acceptance of their united acknowledg- 

 ments for the valuable gift accompanying your said letter, as likewise for your having 

 kindly inscribed our Society for the future copies of your Journals. 



P. J. Sarkies, 

 Secretary, Society of Ararat, 

 Calcutta, 11th Nov. 1845. 



The Secretary intimated that he had received two private letters 

 from Lieutenant Fletcher Hayes informing him that he was busy in 

 carrying into effect his intention of publishing a grammar and vocabu- 

 lary of the Beloochee language, &c. &c. 



Read the following letter. 



To the Secretary of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta. 

 My dear Sir, — Permit me to solicit your kind assistance. I believe as far back as 1834 

 a paper was published by Mr. G. A. Prinsep regarding the introduction of steam navi- 

 gation into India. 





