428 Proceedings of the. Asiatic Society . [No. 5. 



theca Indica issued in 1854, twenty-seven are Arabic, only ten are 

 Sanscrit and one English, the cost of the former is Es. 6,752 of the 

 ten latter less than half, viz. Es. 3,036. This is a disproportion 

 which is inconsistent with the comparative claims of the two de- 

 partments of literature whether the ratios of the population or the 

 value of the individual works be considered, for on referring to the 

 Mahommedan works we observe that they have no relation what- 

 ever to India, nor to any popular form even of the literature of the 

 Indian Mahommedans ; but they embrace to a very large extent 

 abstruse Mahommedan Theology and Sufyism in works which none 

 bub a few of the most learned Moulavies can read, and which still 

 fewer understand, works utterly worthless for the illustration of the 

 past or present condition of India and of little utility to European 

 scholars. When we authorized the appropriation of a special grant 

 to the encouragement of Indian literature, we had in view especially 

 the literature of the Hindus, although, we did not purpose to 

 exclude Mahommedan literature of local origin or interest, such as 

 the historical works epitomised by Sir Henry Elliott; but we 

 certainly did not contemplate a voluminous and costly publication of 

 the theology and tradition and spiritual mysticism of the Mussul- 

 mans, which is the literature of Arabia and not at all that of Indian 



4. — We therefore direct that the encouragement of such works 

 be hereafter withheld. The publications that have been commenced 

 may be completed, but upon their completion we expect that the 

 Asiatic Society in applying part of the funds placed at its disposal 

 to Arabic or Persian works will have due regard to the light which 

 they are calculated to throw, not upon the literature or theology of 

 Arabia, but upon the literature and history of India. 

 We are, &c, 



(Sd.) W. H. Stkes. 

 „ E. D. Mangles. 



And other directors. 



London, IZth May, 1856. 



The Secretary stated that the council had not yet drawn up any 

 reply to this communication, but that they were of opinion that, 

 whilst expressing their readiness to carry out the orders conveyed 

 by it, the society should at the same time transmit for the informa- 



