368 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 4. 



terest are, although the unquestioned property of Government, rapidly 

 going to decay and that unless measures be taken to preserve them, 

 they will certainly before long fall into irretrievable dilapidation. 



" I am therefore desired to request that the Council of the Asiatic 

 Society will favour the Lt. Governor with such information as they may 

 possess on the subject of these ruins, and with an opinion as to whe- 

 ther their history and character is such as to warrant the Government 

 in expending a moderate sum for their preservation. 



I have, &c. 

 (Signed) H. Pratt, 

 TJnder-Secretary to the Government of Bengal" 



From the Secretary to the Asiatic Society, 

 To the Secretary to the Government of Bengal. 



Dated the 7th April, 1855. 

 Sir, — I am directed by the Council of the Asiatic Society to ac- 

 knowledge the receipt of Mr. Under-Secretary Pratt's letter, dated the 

 3rd ultimo, No. 1237, and in reply to express on behalf of the Society 

 the gratification which they derive from this announcement of his 

 Honor's interest in the antiquities of the country. 



Nearly all that is known of the history of the ruins on Rhotasgurh 

 is compiled in the account of them given by Buch. Hamilton, published 

 in the first Vol. of Martin's Eastern India. The stratagem by which 

 the hill was first wrested from its Hindu Chief is narrated by Stewart 

 in his history of Bengal. 



A translation of the Sanscrit inscriptions dated 1631, over the 

 Kothoutiya Gate of the Fort will be found in Vol. 8 of our Society's 

 Journal, but the authenticity of the Genealogy contained in the in- 

 scriptions has never yet been satisfactorily worked out. 



I am desired to add that, in the Society's opinion, all the standing 

 ruins at Iihotas are well deserving of the attention of Government, and 

 to express the pleasure with which they will co-operate, if permitted, 

 in any measures which His Honor may take for preserving them from 

 further dilapidation. 



I have, &c. 

 (Signed) A. Grote, 

 Secretary, Asiatic Society of Bengal. 



