18 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Jan. 



or of which an abstract has not been given, at the meetings, and in 

 all cases the opportunity at least for free discussion of those papers 

 has been given, and such discussion invited. This I consider of 

 high importance, as one of the great advantages of such an association 

 arises from the opportunity its meetings afford of eliciting the views of 

 its members on the subjects brought forward, and thus generating the 

 glow of intellectual enjoyment and intellectual success, by the friction 

 of mind against mind. This advantage is entirely lost when papers 

 are merely laid on the table. At the same time it was found that 

 there remained over several papers, the printing of which had been 

 ordered long before, but which had been laid aside for the publication 

 of others possessing more immediate interest. These have now been 

 all printed in your Journal and, as nearly as the size of the several 

 numbers of the Journal would admit, in the order of succession 

 of their dates of submission to the Society. And now I have the 

 pleasure of telling you that the first number of the Journal, Part II, 

 for the present year 1869, has this evening been placed upon the 

 table, by your Natural history Secretary. This brings up the publica- 

 tion of papers read to the Society to June last ; that is to within 

 six months of the date of issue. Gentlemen, I consider this most 

 highly satisfactory, and we owe much to Dr. Stoliczka for the zeal 

 and devotion he has shewn in bringing about this most desirable 

 change. We hope that the same system will be maintained ; that, as 

 far as the funds of the Society admit, all papers, excepting under 

 peculiar circumstances, and by special order of the Council, shall be 

 published in the order of the date of submission, and without any 

 repetition of delays, which have been thus shewn to be avoidable. 



The Proceedings of the Society again under this system have been' 

 really what they assume to be, and the volume for last year, a goodly 

 sized volume of more than three hundred pages, contains much that 

 is valuable and highly interesting ; and will, I feel certain, bear very 

 favourable comparison with the records of proceedings of any other 

 similar institution, as giving evidence of healthy vigour and active 

 progress in the life of the Society. 



So far I have spoken of the publications of the Society. The other 

 advantage we offer to our members, in return for their contributions 

 is the Library. And with reference to this, I am much pained to say, 



