1866.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 173 



of a co-operative measure that may tend towards the enrichment of 

 the Indian vocabulary." 



The Rev. K. M. Banerjea said that he understood Mr. Blochmann 

 to concur with most of the other speakers on the essentials of the Re- 

 solution now before the meeting — only, he was opposed to the carrying 

 of that resolution, because he thought there was no occasion for it. 

 If the Hon'ble and learned mover had asked the Society, uncalled 

 for, to commit itself to the sentiments contained in his resolution, he, 

 Mr. Banerjea, would have joined Mr. Blochmann in deprecating this 

 motion. Mr. Blochmann has shown with great ability and learning 

 that the resolution is correct in its essentials, and that the arguments 

 which another learned member had put forward a fortnight ago in 

 opposition to it, were not weighty. But Mr. Blochmann things that 

 the Society is not called upon to pass the resolution, though correct 

 in itself. He, as it were, moves the previous question, without directly 

 contradicting the resolution. Mr. Banerjea cannot concur with him 

 in this. The society has already committed itself. The Society has 

 expressed a sort of g^em-approbation of a scheme calculated to stop 

 the progress of historical studies and scientific researches on the part 

 of the natives of the Punjab. For how could they study, purely by 

 means of the oriental languages, subjects not contained in those 

 languages ? The Society is pledged to consult the interests of Science 

 and History no less than those of Oriental lore. Its anxiety for one of 

 its trusts has already led it to overlook :the other. An expression of 

 opinion is therefore necessary in the interests of Science, which have 

 inadvertently been compromised by what has passed. Besides, Mr. 

 Macleod has asked for the Society's opinion. If nothing more be said 

 than what has already passed, Mr. Macleod will have no data for con- 

 cluding that the sentiments of the Society are anything like those 

 which are contained in Mr. Campbell's resolution. The Society being 

 already committed, it is too late now to move the previous question, 

 as it were. The previous question might have been originally moved, 

 when Mr. Macleod's scheme was first brought to the notice of the 

 Society. The Society might have abstained in toto from an expression 

 of opinion on the Punjab scheme, as it never took any notice of a 

 measure at its own door — viz. tne resolution of the Calcutta Univer- 

 sity, by which the study of Sanscrit or Arabic was made compulsory 



