361 



l^raJisaciioris of the Royal Asiatic Societi/. 



Oct.] 



Fust in ancient times, tlirir investiixations into the yet rfmaiuinjx 

 monuments of early and extensive civilization, may here be placed 

 in contrast wiili the labours of tliose who prefer to trace the progress 

 of improvement in the present day, or sus;i;est the means by which 

 that improvement may be accelerated and enlarp;ed ; the deductions 

 of philosophy may he compared with the results of experience, and 

 the theories of the speculative produce schemes of practical utility. 



4. But while the Council is thus endeavourinoj to give greater 

 extension to the operations of the Society, and to increase its claims 

 to puljlic approbation and support in its path of usefulness, it feels 

 that its ability to do so must depend entirely on its securing the earn- 

 est and effective co-operation of the members, and more particularly 

 of those resident in the East. I am therefore desired to request that 

 you will have the goodness to give all possible pwblicity to the sub- 

 ject of this letter, not oidy among the European residents in your 

 Presidency, but also among such classes of the native community 

 as may in your judgment be deemed likely to take an interest in 

 the subject, and likewise avail yourselves of all convenient opportu- 

 nities of urging such persons to communicate whatever information 

 they may possess or be able to acquire relative to the philosophy, 

 the metaphysics, the science, the history, the arts, the manners and 

 custonis of the inhabitants of the countries in which they reside. 



5. In conclusion I have only to express the confidence with 

 which the Council relics on the tried and acknowledged zeal invari- 

 ably displayed by the Members of the Madras Literary Society and 

 Auxiliary Royal Asiatic Society in the promotion of knowledge, that 

 the peculiar facilities for aiding the exertions of the Society which 

 are placed in their power by circumstances and situation, will be 

 steadily applied in furtherance of that object, assuring them that in 

 so doing they cannot fail to secure the grateful acknowledgements 

 of the Society and the cordial approbation of all who duly value 

 the welfare of our Empire in the East. 



I have the honor to be, 

 Gentlemen, 



Your most obedient 



Very humble Servant, 



H. Harkness, 



Secretary, 



