390 



Proceedi'iigs of Societies 



shall not also be felt by our merchants and manufacturers. This princi- 

 ple particularly applied to our intercourse Vv itli India. Superior skill 

 and superior science had enabled our manufactures to supersede those 

 of India, not only in the nuirkets of Europe, but in those of India her- 

 self : but the demand for them must be crippled and limited, if v/e did 

 not find articles which we could advantageously import from India in 

 return. If, then, we looked only to the local and limited interests of 

 this island, we should best consult them by promoting the industry, the 

 welfare, and manufactures of India. But he would be sorry to suppose, 

 in looking at this great country, that she could be induced to act on 

 such narrow and exclusive views, and not regard the happiness and 

 prosperity of eighty millions of her distant subjects to be of far more 

 value than any temporary advantages which might accrue to herself from 

 any system she might deem fit to pursue. In her connexion with India, 

 the Mother Country had every desire to act on a system of reciprocal 

 advantage, and was most anxious, that, in return for what she received, 

 she might contribute to ameliorate the state of civilization in that coun- 

 try. The Asiatic Society had the same object in view, and for that pur- 

 pose had directed its attention to several subjects relating to India. 

 First to the literature of the East, which had been particularly commit- 

 ted to the care of the Oriental Translation Committee, which had taken 

 its origin from the Asiatic Society. The labours of that branch had 

 been of vast importance, and more had been etFected in the last ten 

 years through its instrumentality, than had been altogether performed 

 in any antecedent period. A second object of the Society's attention was 

 the History of India. It would be perceived from the Society's Jour- 

 nal and Transactions how much had been effected in that department. 

 Thirdly, the arts, manufactures, and produce of India, as well as the 

 degree of improvement they were capable of. For the purpose of this 

 investigation, the Committee of Agriculture and Commerce had lately 

 been appointed, and from the commencement they had already made, 

 from the experience, the zeal, and qualifications of the Chairman (Sir 

 Charles Forbes), as well as of the other members whom they had se- 

 lected, he trusted that results the most satisfactory might be anticipated. 

 These were the principal objects of the Society with a view to ameli- 

 orate the condition of the inhabitants of India ; and he felt pride in 

 saying that their labours were productive of much good. When he 

 had the honour of addressing the Meeting last year, he had mentioned 

 the great uneasiness which had been expressed at the suspension of the 

 printing of Oriental works at Calcutta at the expense of Government. 

 The expense which was incurred w^as trifling, Vv^hen compared with 

 the magnitude of the objects which were held in view. The So- 



