700 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Dec. 



3. The Section approve of the reduction in the prices of the Society's 

 books, and submit a list recommending a still greater reduction of the prices. 



4. The Section approve of the proposition to publish the Kamanduk 

 Niti Sha'stra, in the Oriental Journal. 



5. The Section would recommend the Society to subscribe to at least 20 

 copies of Mr. Corcoran's work. 



6. The Section consider Mr. Laidlay's translation of Fa Hian, with its 

 numerous original notes, a valuable addition to Oriental Literature, and 

 recommend to subscribe to at least 30 copies. 



7. I take this opportunity to invite the attention of the Society to a work 

 of the highest importance for Oriental literature, viz. Lassen's " Indische 

 Alterthumskunde" (Indian Antiquities). It is of a very comprehensive cha- 

 racter, embracing the political, religious and social history of India. In fact 

 it contains the result of the previous researches in India, and is founded on 

 the most diligent study of the various branches of Hindu literature, monu- 

 ments, inscriptions, etc. as well as on the information of the adjacent nations 

 and of travellers in India. The work is dedicated to the Asiatic Society in 

 very flattering terms. I add a translation of the dedication for the inform- 

 ation of the Society. 



8. The books and original enclosures are herewith returned. 



I have the honour to be, Sir, 



Your most obedient servant, 



E. Roer, 

 Secy. Oriental Section of Asiatic Society. 



To the Secretary Asiatic Society. 



Sir, — I beg leave to bring to the notice of the Asiatic Society a rare and 

 interesting manuscript lately received from Capt. Kittoe, and respectfully 

 suggest, if it shall meet with the approbation of the Oriental Section, to 

 publish it in the ' Bibliotheca Indica.' 



The work is entitled the " Polity of Kdmandaki" (^rw^sfa «f1f<TWr^0 

 and was composed about the end of the fourth century before Christ, by a 

 disciple of the celebrated minister — Vishnugupta. It treats of the duties of 

 man as a member of society ; of the principles and form of civil government 

 as prevalent amongst the Hindus ; of the rights and privileges of kings and 

 ministers : of the art of fortification ; of the principles of military tactics ; — 

 in short, of all the branches of political science, which engaged the attention 

 of Hindu statesmen at the time of Chandragupta. It is perhaps the only 

 work of its kind that is known to exist, and considered with reference to the 

 state of civilization in India about the time of Alexander's expedition, pos- 

 sesses a strong claim upon the attention of the Society. 



