110 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [ April, 



after due public notice, is not the least important right attached to 

 membership of the Society. 



" I feel that the chair of the Asiatic Society of Bengal is one of the 

 highest scientific rewards which can be obtained in India. And 

 I most fully appreciate the honor intended for me by selection for 

 that office. I should, however, be false to myself, and false to the 

 Members of the Society, if with the strong conviction I hold as to the 

 inevitable results of such infringements of the laws of the Society, 

 knowingly committed, I were to allow any personal considerations o£ 

 honor to outweigh my convictions. 



" Under these circumstances, I do not therefore, hesitate to decline- 

 assuming the responsibilities of an office to which, as I believe, I have 

 not been legally elected, being still ready and willing, as I have 

 always been, to exert myself for the advantage of your Society, as- 

 constituted, to the utmost of my power. 



" March 18tf, 1868. 



" The forgoing letter was intended for immediate circulation to the 

 Members of the Society. On the 12th instant I received the officii 

 notification of the election, dated 6th February, (which had miscarries 

 and had been returned to me from Madras). And being naturall] 

 anxious to remedy the lache which had occurred, and yielding to tin 

 views of others, I immediately requested a special meeting of the 

 Council. This took place on the 17th instant. I stated my infor- 

 mation, as to the facts — these were in no way questioned. I statei 

 also my determination as above, not to accept the office unless sucl 

 irregular election were duly confirmed, and I pointed out the simple 

 mode of remedying the mistake by a special general meeting of tin 

 Society, showing that under Rule 63 — such could be called by the 

 Council, or by the President, on a requisition from six Members 

 the Society. I further stated, that I had already received sin 

 a requisition, properly signed, which, if President, I would have ne 

 option but to comply with. And I left it to the Council to say win 

 they would do. After discussion, the following resolution was passe 

 that — ' In the opinion of the Council as Dr. Oldham was electe 

 President at a general meeting held in accordance with the Bye-Laws 

 this Society, his election is legal and valid, notwithstanding 

 informality in the notices convening the meeting which appear 



