\ g^G tj Proceedings of Societies. 1 77 



and his celebrated minister, Abulfazl, after an equally attentive observation of 

 their character and capacity, declared them to he persons worthy of the greatest 

 respect and highest confidence; and a people who had attained the greatest dis- 

 tinction in arts, science, and literature. Upon these views the Emperor Akbar, 

 during a very long reign, acted towards the Hindus, and received from them, at 

 his death, the title of " Guardian of Mankind." 



Sir George Staunton rose to move a vote of thanks to Sir x\lexander Johnston 

 for his very able Report, accompanied by a request that he would reduce his ob- 

 servations to writing, in order that they might be printed in the Journal. He 

 said he felt assured that every one who had listened to that Report, and who was 

 aware of ths important services which Sir Alexander had rendered to the Society 

 from year to year since its first institution, must be happy to take this mode of 

 conveying to him the expression of the grateful feeling of the Society, and its 

 wish that the very valuable information he had given them should be preserved in 

 a permanent shape on its records. He thought it would be a waste of words to 

 detain them longer in direct support of the motion; but he felt it to be his duty, 

 looking to the interests and future welfare- of the Society, to draw their attention 

 to the advantage it would derive from so excellent an example being more gene- 

 rally followed. While the Society comprised within its limits so many distin- 

 guished individuals, capable, from their talents and experience, of promoting in a 

 similar manner the important objects for which it was instituted, it was to be 

 hoped that they would not suffer their powers to remain dormant, but exert them 

 with the same zeal and perseverance as exhibited by his right honourable friend. 

 Sir George said he fe;t more anxious at this moment to draw the attention of the 

 meeting to the expediency of increased exertions on behalf of the Society, as it 

 seemed to him that it had now arrived at what might be considered a critical 

 period of its existence, at its twelfth anniversary. It was a matter of congratula- 

 tion that it was now completely organised, and that it included in its lists almost 

 every distinguished name, native as well as foreign, in Oriental literature. It was 

 now not merely a literary and scientific institution for the interchange of useful 

 and agreeable information among its own members, but it evidently possessed 

 powers of collecting and diffusing information respecting the condition and inter- 

 ests of our vast Indian possessions, the cultivation of which was of great public and 

 national importance. But it was impossible that these powers could be fully de- 

 veloped in the publication of the numerous communications they had received s 

 and in the suitable disposal for general benefit of their increasing library and 

 museum, without some public assistance. It was obvious that, with every private 

 exertion that could be made, the Society must languish in comparative inefficiency 

 without some kind of national support. He ventured, therefore, respectfully to 

 appeal to the members of the Society who were of his Majesty's privy council, and 

 especially our distinguished president, whose representations of its claim to suita- 

 ble apartments for its accommodation, whenever any were at the disposal of 

 government, he felt convinced, whatever political party might be in power, must 

 ultimately be listened to. He hoped he might also venture to make a similar ap- 

 peal to the Directors of the East India Company who were members of the 

 Society ; well knowing that the liberality of the Company, when appealed to on 

 just and public grounds, had never been wanting. The government and the 

 Company could not but feel, that such an association of talent for the diffusion of 

 knowledge connected with our Eastern possessions, was an instrument in their 

 hands that they could not create ; but which, since it now existed, it was most de- 

 sirable, as well as politic, to foster and cherish for the public benefit. 



