Proceedings of Societies. 
141 
Resolved, that the remaining copies be sold at Six Rupees a copy. 
Resolved, that the President be desired to prepare and communicate to Lord 
William Bentinck, the request of the Society, that His Lordship and Lady Ben- 
tinck would become Patron and Patroness of the Society. 
The Meeting adjourned. 
Wednesday, stpril I5ti, 1829. 
W. Leyckster, Esq. President, in the chair. 
Mr. Alexander informed the Meeting, that he had the honour to be requested to 
communicate the intention of the Governor General to become a Member of the 
Society. 
Mr. Robison presented a paper by Baboo Radakanth Deb, containing the 
history, properties, culture, and propagation of the Bere Tree of India. 
Aletterwas read from Mr. David Si ott, at Gowahatty, forwardingtheseedofa 
oew vegetable, called bv the Assamese, Kamti Lai, and which be considered 
“worthy of introduction by the Society’, as producing, early in November, leaves of 
considerable size, and which, in the absence, at that season, of more delicate vegeta- 
bles, are very palatable.” 
The thanks of the Meeting were voted to Mr. Scott for this, in addition to his 
numerous and valuable communications. 
Rie Secretary- to the Committee, appointed on 14th January last, for the purpose 
of investigating and reporting upon tire present state of the Society, presented the 
report which had been prepared by them, and the same was read by the Secretary 
of the Society. 
The report states, that the books and accounts of the Society were in such a state, 
•hat the Committee would derive little or no information from them, and that im- 
portant documents were wholly omitted. That on examining the accounts of the 
Treasurers, it appeared that the funds of the Society, which, in May 1827, amount- 
ed to Sa. Rs. 11,000, were now exhausted; and that the expenditure appeared to 
have been conducted, not only without the sanction of the Society ; but in contraven- 
tion of roles laid down for that purpose. That independent of all contingent ex- 
penses, the annual expenditure of the Society amounted to Rs. 5,200 ; while the in- 
come amounted only to 3,400, including the" donation of Government ; and that the 
present state of expenditure had only been supported by a wasteful call upon funds 
of which the interest alone ought to" have been touched. The Committee therefore 
recommended an immediate retrenchment : 1st, by giving up altogether the Poosa 
G “rden, and 2dlv, by reducing the expenditure of the Allipore Garden to Rs. 100 
Per month. That ah incorporation of the Society with the Asiatic Society, did not 
a Ppear expedient, unless it should he found that the Society cannot otherwise he 
kept up; which the Committee did not apprehend to be the case, as they knew of 
many gentlemen who wished to become members, and were, only deterred by not 
"eing able to procure information of the Society’s proceedings. That an effectual 
means of increasing the utility of the Society, and keeping up an interest in its pro- 
ceedings, would lie secured bv a frequent publication of its proceedings, and trans- 
'‘•ion of its transactions into the native languages. That it appeared highly expe- 
dw&t to elect the officers of the Society annually, and that they could not conclude 
without recommending an earlv day being immediately appointed for electing all the 
“Seers of the Society, and fixing r'ules for their subsequent re-election and rotation, 
the past experiencc’of the Society had proved too plainly the necessity’ of a great- 
erdegTee of vigilance and exertion, than could be expected from the present system 
°f management. _ . , . , , 
Jt was moved and carried, that the report of the Committee be received and re- 
corded. 
j* was moved and carried, that die thanks of the Society be offered to the Com- 
mittee. 
>• was moved and carried, that the Poosah Garden be immediately given up, and 
the Secretary’ be requested to express to Government the regret of the Society, 
tiwt the state of its funds did not permit it to continue the cultivation of the garden. 
. fte state and expense of the Allipore Garden, were next taken into consideration; 
but the subject was deferred till a future meeting, as some difficulties arose from the 
jmtffle of Mr. Mitchell the head gardener’s engagement. It was resolved, however, 
““mediately, to reduce the expenditure of it to the lowest possible scale. 
, Mr. Alexander was of opinion, that the attention and funds of the Society had 
° ecn too much devoted to Horticultural objects, thereby losing sight, in a great de- 
gree > of agriculture, which he considered the main busiuess of the Society ; and 
