228 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 3. 



2nd. Suggesting that the Society request the Eight Hon'ble 

 Viscount Canning to become the patron of the Society. 



Eesolved that a deputation, consisting of the President, Vice- 

 Presidents and Secretary, wait upon his Lordship for the purpose. 



3rd. Stating that in their opinion the present state of the So- 

 ciety's finances does not warrant the reduction of subscription pro- 

 posed by Capt. Thuillier at the December meeting, and that such 

 reduction would materially impair the efficiency of the Society, and 

 submitting the following report drawn up by a special Sub-Com- 

 mittee appointed to take the subject into consideration. 



Eepoet. 



" The Committee are of opinion that it is very desirable to reduce 

 the amount of subscription, if it can be effected without bringing 

 the Society into financial difficulties. 



" There can be no doubt, however, that the immediate effect of a 

 reduction would be a diminution of the annual income, since the 

 accession of new members could only take place gradually. Unless 

 therefore, the Society is prepared to diminish its annual expenditure 

 or to make up the deficit in income from the small existing surplus, 

 the reduction cannot be effected. 



" A reduction of annual expenditure is, under present circum- 

 stances evidently impossible ; and, in the face of the many calls for 

 increased outlay, the Committee are of opinion that the other 

 alternative is equally impracticable. 



" In coming to this conclusion, the Committee have been mainly 

 influenced by the state of the Museum, the constantly increasing 

 claims of which demand the most serious consideration. There is a 

 call, on the one hand for an increase of the Curator's salary and for 

 providing more assistants, and on the other hand for additional space. 



" In whatever way the Society may ultimately determine to dis- 

 pose of some of these questions, the Committee presume that the 

 necessity of maintaining in good order the specimens now in the 

 Museum will be generally admitted. This, the Society is bound to 

 do as trustee for the donors of many valuable collections, and they are 

 equally bound as far as practicable to make these collections acces- 

 sible to the public. But all the available space in the Society's apart* 





