388 



Proceedings of Societies : 



[Oct. 



luable observations, and to collect those valuable materials, from which, 

 v/ith the assistance of Sir Charles Forbes, and his other friends, he af- 

 terwards published that magnificent collection of charts, which is known 

 by the name of the Indian Pilot. The persons by whose unanimous co- 

 operation the resolutions are passed, are merchants of almost all the 

 nations of Europe, America and Asia. The place at which they were 

 passed, is Canton, which, though 18,000 miles from the spot where 

 he died, is a place at which all the foreign merchants are the most ca- 

 pable of appreciating the value of his labours, from having become 

 fully aware, during their voyage from their own country to that place, 

 of the perils from which they had been saved by the accuracy of his 

 charts and his observations. The monument which is to be erected is 

 the most appropriate one that could have been erected to his memory, 

 as it is to consist of a series of light-houses, which are calculated to af- 

 ford to navigators the same protection by night, which his charts and 

 observations afford them by day. The situation in which these light- 

 houses are to be erected, is atone of the great entrances through which 

 ships pass from the Pacific into the Chinese seas ; and is calculated, 

 both from the number of ships which are likely to pass through that 

 entrance, and from the great moral and political changes which are likely 

 to be brought about amongst the inhabi tants of the empire of China, 

 and amongst those of all the Eastern islands, by the European esta- 

 blishments in Australasia, to secure for Horsburgh's memory, for 

 many ages yet to come, the respect and gratitude of the inhabitants of 

 every maritime nation of Europe, Asia, and America. 



Sir Ralph Rice said, that in rising to propose a vote of thanks to th e 

 Eight Hon. Chairman of the Committee of Correspondence, for his very 

 able Report, he only regretted that the pleasing office had not been 

 entrusted to a person more able to do justice to it. He felt convinced, 



that, after the very eloquent and comprehensive address which had 

 just been delivered, there would not be found one dissentient 

 voice. It was, indeed, delightful, to find a gentleman, after having 

 retired from the duties of a laborious profession, devoting his valuable 

 leisure to subjects intimately connected with the general his- 

 tory of India, and affording, by such an employment of his time, so 

 much information and gratification to those with whom he came in con- 

 tact. When it was recollected what a vast range of information the 

 Right Hon, Gentleman had displayed for so many years in his annual 

 addresses, the extraordinary skill which he had shown in the arrange- 

 ment of his interesting facts, as well ay the valuable suggestions which 

 he had made for the benefit of the Society, it appeared a matter of 



