163 



Proceedings of Societies: 



PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



Proceedings of the Anniversary Meeting of the Royal Asiatic Society, held on 

 Saturday, the 9th of May, 1835. 



The Twelfth Anniversary Meeting was held this day at one o'clock; the Right 

 Honourable Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, M. P., the President of the So- 

 ciety, in the chair. 



The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed. 



The Secretary then read the Twelfth Annual Report of the Council. (Vide 

 p. xxiii). 



The Report of the Auditors was read by Lieut. -Colonel Doyle. (Vide p. xxvi). 



Colonel Elackburne observed, that the careful attention displayed by the audi- 

 tors in their report was so evident, that it required no eulogy from him. He 

 should, therefore, simply beg to move that the thanks of the Society be given to 

 those gentlemen for their services; and that their Report, together with that of 

 the Council, be received and printed. This motion was seconded by Sir Henry 

 Willock, and carried unanimously. 



Lieut.-Colonel Doyle, in returning thanks on behalf of himself and brother 

 Auditors, said, that although the general aspect of the Society's affairs was one of 

 congratulation, it certainly would have been more agreeable could the Auditors 

 have shewn abetter state on the credit side of the Society's accounts; yet still he 

 had no doubt that by active exertion the pecuniary means of the Society might 

 soon be pla ced in a prosperous condition. He did not imagine, however, that any 

 great reduction could be made in the expenditure of the Society, and, at the same 

 time, allow the accommodation to members which was now afforded. But there 

 was a mode by w hich these difficulties might be overcome. If gentlemen would 

 only "put their shoulders to the whee 1" by explaining the objects of the Society 

 to their friends, and increase the number of contiiLuting members, and also direct 

 their efforts with a view to the procuring of public accommodation for the Society 

 in some of the government buildings likely soon to be vacant; by such means the 

 funds of the Institution would soon flemish. He trusted, however, that the next 

 year's audit would be more favourable. It appeared, too, that a sum of three hun- 

 dred and eighty pounds was due to the Society by the Oriental Translation Fund, 

 an institution closely con nected with the Society. It was an old adage, " that 

 short reckonings made long friends; 1 ' and, for his part, he thought, that the sooner 

 an adjustment of this account took place the better. 



Sir Alexander Johnston, chairman of the Committee of Correspondence, read a 

 memoiandum enumerating the principal subjects which had engag ed the attention 

 of the Committee during the past year. 



Sir Alexander then observed, in substance,* as follows: — ■ 



" From the statement I have just read, the meeting will see that during the last 

 year the Committee have directed their inquiries to two subjects in particular; 

 first, to the collectin g of materials for compiling a history of the peninsula of 

 India, south of the river Krishna; secondly, to the best means of introducing the 

 sciences of Europe amongst the Hindu population of that part of India. With a 



* As Sir Alexander was requested to reduce his observations to writing, we here only 

 give such as were collected on the occasion. 



