1870.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 43 



the warmest thanks of the Society. It would be unjust did I not 

 state that we are mainly indebted for this favourable result to your 

 Finance Committee, who have been most earnest and punctual in 

 their attendance, and in their efforts to bring your finances into a 

 healthy state ; and especially to your Treasurers, Colonel J. E. 

 Gastrell, and lately to Colonel Hyde, who have spared no 

 personal exertion to carry out the views of the Committee. 



Considering this question of a healthy state of the finances of 

 the Society, to be one affecting the very life-blood of the Association, 

 without which even existence would be impossible, I have detained 

 you with these few words. And I would again venture to urge, 

 that unless supported by the members, and the prompt payment of 

 their contributions, all the efforts of your officers will be in vain. 



Coincidently with these improvements in your financial condition, 

 I would also point to the great improvements which your Secretaries 

 have introduced in your Journal and Proceedings. The record of 

 each meeting of the Society during the two years just passed has 

 been, as a rule, in the hands of the members before the next monthly 

 meeting. The last number of the Proceedings for the past year, 

 with Index &c., was issued, early in January. The Proceedings 

 have, as anticipated, become a very valuable, and rapid means of 

 publication of the shorter papers, and of abstracts of the important 

 contributions to the Society; and in itself, the volume for 1869, 

 of nearly 300 pages with 7 plates gives an admirable summary of 

 the labours of the Society. 



The Journal, has also been punctually issued. Of each part, four 

 numbers for the year have appeared, within twelve months. And 

 each forms a volume of much value in itself. I may remind you that 

 it would have been impossible to make such a statement regarding 

 the Journal of the Society for the last 20 years certainly. I ventured 

 in addressing you last year to insist upon the necessity of this punc- 

 tuality in the appearance of the Journal, if it were to maintain its 

 interest. Contributors of valuable papers naturally object to delay 

 in the publication of their results, and if it be uncertain whether 

 these will appear at all, or perhaps only after lapse of years, will 

 certainly seek for other medium of publication. And independently of 

 this, I would ask how long any one of us would continue to subscribe 



