1868.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society, 33 



and circulated 2,500 copies. It is to be hoped that this key to a 

 uniform system of spelling Indian words will bear abundant fruit ; for 

 the Government has directed its distribution among the officers who 

 are engaged in making ethnologial reports. 



With reference to the new Act for registering every book print- 

 ed, and for keeping copies of each to form a Bengal library, the 

 Committee had offered, on certain conditions, if required, to take charge 

 of the books ; but the necessity for doing so has been obviated by the 

 appointment of a Librarian on the part of the Government. 



It is with great satisfaction that the Committee report the com- 

 pletion of the long expected Pali Grammar. 



The important question of the Catalogue has been frequently dis- 

 cussed, but without any satisfactory conclusion having been arrived at. 

 It has, however, been resolved that a revised edition of the alphabetical 

 Catalogue shall be published meanwhile. 



The state of the library has improved since last year ; the Librarian 

 has arranged in separate cases all the works on Natural History, 

 Botany, Agriculture, Grammar, Mathematics, Chemistry, Meteorology, 

 Law, Theology, the Dictionaries and Transactions of Societies, which 

 were formerly mingled, without order. This new arrangement .is on 

 the point of being completed. 



A classified list of all the works on natural history has also been 

 drawn out. 



The hours during which the library is kept open have also been ex- 

 tended : it is now open from 10 to 5, instead of to 4 p. m., and I may 

 incidentally mention, that the Council have acknowledged the merits of 

 the Assistant Librarian, Babu Money Lai Bysack, by increasing his 

 salary. 



New books, periodicals, papers and transactions of learned Societies 

 have been received as usual, and to the extent following : — 



New books, presentations, 248 



Do. from Government, 67 



Authors' editions, 49 



From Societies, foreign and local, 132 



No. of papers received, 23 



Most of the new books are works on natural history. With refer- 

 ence to the new alphabetical catalogue sanctioned by the Council, the 



