06 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 3, 
publication in their Journal, papers connected with the appointment 
of Colonel Alexander Cunning-ham, to the investigation of antiquities 
of Behar and other parts of Upper India, a task for which he is 
known to be very highly qualified. 
2. Colonel Cunningham has been at work in South Behar since 
the early part of December, and it is believed that his researches 
have already been rewarded by some important identifications of 
localities, mentioned in the ancient Buddhist writings. 
I have, &c., 
(Sd.) H. Yule, Lieut.-Colonel, 
Secg. to the Govt, of India. 
Dated 22nd January, 1862. 
Minute by the Right Hon'ble the Governor General of India in 
Council on the Antiquities of Upper India. 
In November last, when at Allahabad, I had communications with 
Colonel A. Cunningham, then the Chief Engineer of the N. W. 
Provinces, regarding an investigation of the archseological remains of 
Upper India. 
It is impossible to pass through that part, or indeed, so far as my 
experience goes, any part, of the British territories in India without 
being struck by the neglect with which the greater portion of the 
architectural remains, and of the traces of by-gone civilization have 
been treated, though many of these and some which have had least 
notice are full of beauty and interest. 
By “ neglect” I do not mean only the omission to restore them, 
or even to arrest their decay ; for this would be a task, which in many 
cases, would require an expenditure of labour and money, far greater 
than any Government of India could reasonably bestow upon it. 
But so far as the Government is concerned, there has been neglect 
of a much cheaper duty ; that of investigating and placing on record, 
for the instruction of future generations, many particulars that might 
still be rescued from oblivion, and throw light upon the early history 
of England’s great dependency; a history which, as time moves on, 
as the country becomes more easily accessible, and traversable, and 
as Englishmen are led to give more thought to India than such as 
barely suffices to hold it and govern it, will assuredly occupy, more 
and more, the attention of the intelligent and enquiring classes in 
European countries. 
