1868.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 35 



all other questions, concerning the public good, will receive His Honor's 

 due and deliberate consideration. 



As to the subject of the garden, I hope the project will not be 

 abandoned ; for not only is Calcutta wanting in a Zoological garden, 

 but also in public and open spaces away from the city, where the 

 people can combine instruction with recreation ; in this respect it is far 

 behind other cities in India. 



In the department of Numismatics, some additions have been made 

 to the collections ; about 30 ancient coins have been added to the 

 Cabinet, besides a large collection of modern European gold and silver 

 pieces, which were purchased from the Bank of Bengal. Arrange- 

 ments are being made for rearranging the collection. 



Though not so completely as we could wish, yet some work has 

 been done in the department of meteorology ; and with the aid of 

 Government, which has to a considerable extent already been afforded, 

 it is to be hoped that a system of meteorological observations may be 

 carried on throughout the country that shall be of service and capable 

 of rendering trustworthy conclusions on this all-important subject. 



In 1864, our Secretary, Mr. Blanford, drew up a report on the subject of 

 the Asiatic Society's action in promoting meteorology, which was sub- 

 mitted to Government. In March 1865, Sir Cecil Beadon appointed 

 a Committee, consisting of three members of the Society, viz. Col. Gas- 

 trell and Messrs. Blanford and Obbard, to arrange and carry out a plan 

 of meteorological observation for the protection of the port, by enabling 

 the shipping to have warning of approaching storms. The Com- 

 mittee established a series of stations, beginning with Saugor Island, 

 from which telegrams were received twice a day, and one of the 

 members undertook the examination and revision of these reports, 

 and warned the shipping through the Master Attendant, whenever 

 the reports indicated approaching mischief. The most noticeable 

 result of the Committee's labours is the preparation of a report on 

 the cyclone of 1864, by Col. Gastrell and Mr. Blanford, which was 

 published by the Bengal Government and distributed to a large 

 number of scientific bodies and eminent meteorologists in Europe, 

 America, and elsewhere. 



In April last the executive work of this Committee was trans- 

 ferred to a paid officer, (Mr. Blanford) and steps are now being 



