PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL, 



For November, 1868 

 — • — 



Pursuant to notice to that effect, a Special General Meeting of the 

 Society, was held on the evening of the 4th of November, 1868, at 

 9 o'clock p. m. 



T. Oldham, Esq., LL. D., in the chair. 



The President said, it would be quite unnecessary that he should 

 enter into any detailed history of the long protracted correspondence, 

 and discussions which had led to the result they were asked to ratify 

 by their votes this evening. He would not detain them by any 

 reference to earlier parts of this history, but simply state that, at the 

 beginning of 1864, there appeared a fair prospect of final success, and 

 by a general vote of the Society at large, the Council were then fully 

 authorized to treat with the Government of this country, in accord- 

 ance with the general terms set forth in the correspondence then sub- 

 mitted to the Members. Armed with this authority the Council had 

 treated, and had finally brought the contract to an issue, which 

 be might, without hesitation, say was highly advantageous to the 

 Society, 



The arrangement was very briefly this. The Society hand over to 

 Trustees, appointed under the Act of the Legislative Council of India, 

 which embodies these arrangements, (Act XVII. of 1866), the 

 collections which they now possess of Natural History, of Antiquities, 

 and of Miscellaneous objects, as well as any additions thereto which 

 they may obtain. The Government undertake to erect a commodious 

 building, specially adapted to the purpose, to provide for the payment 

 and maintenance of an efficient staff of curators, taxidermists, &c, and 



