3862 .] 
97 
Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 
It will not be to our credit, as an enlightened ruling power, if 
we continue to allow such fields of investigation, as the remains of 
the old Buddhist capital in Behar, the plains round Delhi, studded 
with ruins more thickly than even the Campagna of Borne, and 
many others, to remain without more examination than they have 
hitherto received. Everything that has hitherto been done in this 
way, has been done by private persons, imperfectly and without 
sj^stem. It is impossible not to feel, that there are European 
Governments, which, if they had held our rule in India, would not 
have allowed this to be said. 
It is true that in 1814, on a representation from the Boyal Asiatic 
Society, and in 1847, in accordance with detailed suggestions from. 
Lord Hardinge, the Court of Directors gave a liberal sanction to 
certain arrangements for examining, delineating:, and recording* some 
of the chief antiquities of India. But for one reason or another, 
mainly perhaps owing to the Officer entrusted with the task having 
other work to do, and owing to his early death, very little seems to 
have resulted from this endeavour. A few drawings of antiquities, 
and some remains, were transmitted to the India House, and some 
% 
fifteen or twenty papers were contributed by Major Kittoe and Ma¬ 
jor Cunningham to the Journals of the Asiatic Society; but, so far 
as the Government is concerned, the scheme appears to have been 
lost sight of within two or three years of its adoption. 
I enclose a memorandum drawn up by Col. Cunningham, who 
has, more than any other Officer on this side of India, made the 
antiquities of the country his study, and who has here sketched 
the course of proceeding which a more complete and systematic 
archseological investigation should, in his opinion, take. 
I think it good,—and none the worse for being a beginning on a 
moderate scale. It will certainly cost very little in itself, and will 
commit the Government to no future or unforeseen expense. For it 
does not contemplate the spending of any. money upon repairs and 
preservation. This, when done at all, should be done upon a separ¬ 
ate and full consideration of any case which may seem to claim it. 
What is aimed at is an accurate description, illustrated by plans, 
measurements, drawings or photographs, and by copies of inscriptions, 
of such remains as most deserve notice with the history of them so 
far as it may be traceable, and a record of the traditions that are re¬ 
tained regarding them. 
o 
