4 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Jan. 



Museum. 



In May last, the long contemplated transfer of the Society's collections 

 to Government concluded the negotiations which have been pending 

 since 1857, and the progressive steps of which have been from time 

 to time reported to the Society. Before making the transfer, the 

 Society had incurred a very large expenditure upon the Museum, 

 in order that it might pass from their hands in a condition worthy 

 of the many eminent men by whose exertions it had been formed. 

 To Dr. J. Anderson, as a member of their own body, the Society are 

 indebted for superintending the restoration and re-arrangement which 

 the long absence of any qualified curator had rendered necessary, and 

 they believe that all qualified to judge will pronounce the Museum in 

 its present condition to be one of which the Society may be proud. 

 The collections will remain in the Society's house until the completion 

 of the new Museum Building. This, it is expected, will be ready to 

 receive them within about three years from the present time. 



The Museum is now in charge of the thirteen trustees appointed 

 under the Act (XVI. of 1866,) four of whom, viz. Dr. Partridge, Dr. 

 Fayrer, Mr. Atkinson, and Mr. H. F. Blanford, are nominated by the 

 Council of the Society. 



Finance. 



The heavy outlay on the Museum during the past year, following 

 closely upon that incurred for the restoration of the building, and 

 accompanied by a large increase in the publications of the Society, 

 has temporarily reduced the finances of the Society to an unusually 

 low ebb. On the other hand, unrealized assets, consisting of sums due 

 by members and subscribers to the Journal have increased greatly. 

 Indeed the Council cannot but think that these arrears would 

 have been very much greater than they are, had it not been for 

 the active exertions of the Honorary Treasurer of the Society, 

 who has succeeded by dint of untiring exertions in realizing a con- 

 siderable portion of the debts outstanding at the end of the last year. 

 Owing to these causes, the Council have had to dispose of not less 

 than 3000 Us. worth of Government Securities in excess of the sale 

 provided for in the Budget of the last year ; as is shewn in the follow- 

 ing table of the income and expenditure, as estimated at the beginning 

 of the last year, and as actually received or expended. 



