1857.] Proceedings of tlie Asiatic Society. 161 



forward the general objects of the Society, and the votes on the 

 question of the reduction of the subscriptions of members geuerally 

 which was lately raised, tend to shew that this is a correct view of 

 the matter. 



" In making this report to the Society, the Council think it but 

 right to add, that a minority of their body w r ould advocate the 

 immediate reduction of the subscriptions as suggested by Mr. 

 Oldham. This minority of the Council do not deny the possibility 

 of some temporary falling off of the resources of the Society as a 

 consequence of such a step, but having in view the altered conditions 

 of Society in Calcutta during the last few years, and the extreme 

 importance of strengthening the Society with new members, and 

 enlarging its sphere of action to the utmost, they are convinced 

 that the true policy for the Society to adopt is to throw down, as 

 far as possible, all obstructions to its expansion, and to trust to 

 an increased love of learning and science to enlarge the number 

 of members and to make good any temporary falling off in the 

 contributions which such a reduction might cause." 



The President proposed, seconded by Baboo Eamgopal Grhose — 



That the votes of the Mofussil members be taken on Mr. Old- 

 ham's proposition, and that a special meeting be convened for the 

 final decision of the question, and be held after the ordinary general 

 meeting of the Society on the first "Wednesday in June. 



Agreed to. 



The Council asked permission to expend a sum not exceeding 

 Es. 1,200 in the purchase of additional cases for the Bird Eoom, 

 on the recommendation of the Committee of Natural History. 



Sanctioned. 



The Council also reported that, on the recommendation of the 

 same Committee, they had agreed to make the followiug additions 

 and changes in the establishment for the Museum of Natural His- 

 tory. 



That the wages of the present Taxidermist Mr. Swaris, Senior, 

 be increased from Es. 20 to Es. 30, and of bits Assistant, Swaris, 

 Junior, from Es. 15 to 20 per mensem, on condition that the Cu- 

 rator reports favourably of their work, and on the understanding that 



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