Proceedings of Societies. 



163 



Sir George Staunton lias presented a large and elaborate model of the pagoda 

 and convent of priests at Canton, which was assigned for the residence of the British 

 ambassadors and their suits in China. Also, an original painting in oil, by a Chi- 

 nese artist, representing a court of justice held at Canton. 



To Sir Henry Willock the Society is indebted for eight casts from the sculptured 

 ruins of Persepolis together with some Babylonian curiosities presented by him in 

 the name of his brother, the late Captain Willock, R. M. 



Besides the numerous individuals who have contributed to the library and mu- 

 seum of the Society, the Council is proud to acknowledge the courtesy of the 

 following institutions, in contributing copies of their Transactions — some in ex- 

 change for the Transactions of this Society, some altogether gratuitous. 



L'Academie Imperiale des Sciences de St, Petersbourg ; the Literary Society 

 of Batavia ; the Royal College of Surgeons in London ; the Medico-Botanical 

 Society ; the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Com- 

 merce ; the Royal Geographical Society ; the Royal Academy of Sciences at Turin ; 

 the Asiatic Society of Bengal ; the Zoological Society of London ; the Royal 

 Society of Edinburgh ; and the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia. 



"With the two last-mentioned an arrangement for a mutual exchange of Tran- 

 sactions was entered into during the past year. 



In the last Report of the Council, intimation was given of an alteration in the 

 form and plan of the Society's publications ; and the Council is happy to announce, 

 that the change alluded to bids fair to realize every advantage that was anticipated 

 from it, although the Council has not yet been able to carry it to the full extent 

 projected. 



On a reference to a comparative statement which has lately been submitted to 

 the Council by the secretary, it will be seen, that a saving of no less a sum than 

 200?. a-year will be effected by this arrangement. But it is not in point of eco- 

 nomy alone that the Council bespeaks the Society's approbation in this particular. 

 It finds still higher grounds for congratulation in the fact, that this arrangement 

 has been the medium of placing the Journal within the reach of so much greater a 

 portion of the reading public, and of thus gratifying that increasing desire for 

 information on Oriental subjects which of late, various circumstances have gra- 

 dually contributed to excite. 



From this enlarged sphere of usefulness the Council is tempted to augur, not 

 only increasing support to the Society, but also an addition to the number of 

 labourers in the field of Oriental literature, where, notwithstanding the plentiful 

 harvest which invites them, they have as yet been comparatively few ; that few, 

 however, evincing, it must be confessed, a degree of ardour and devotedness which 

 has rarely been surpassed. 



In turning to the operations of the Oriental Translation Fund, the Council has 

 the satisfaction of observing, that they have been carried on during the past year 

 with unabated energy. Several valuable works have been published by it during 

 that period, viz. ; " the Harivansa," a celebrated Sanskrit epic poem, translated 

 into French by M. Langlois ; the " Annals of Japan," edited by M. Klaproth ; 

 a " Description of the Burmese Empire, translated from the Italian MS. of 

 Sangermano by Dr. Tandy ; the " Didascalia," a rare Ethiopic work, translated 

 by Mr. Piatt, and to which the original text is added ; a second volume of " Miscel- 

 laneous Translations from Oriental Languages ;" and a " History of Guzei at," 

 translated by James Bird, Esq. M R.A.S. The institution has also many other 

 works of interest in the course of publication. 



