68 H. Rivett-Carnac —On preservation of Antiquarian Remains. [Feb. 
of India, their existence in the wild out-of-the-way Nagpur Province was 
unknown. This discovery, placed by Mr. Egerton in the hands of General 
Cunningham, has proved of real value, as shewn by his recently published 
volume on Indian Inscriptions. But one cannot depend upon such trea¬ 
sures always falling into the hands of men like Mr. Egerton. Others 
ignorant of its value, might think little of bricking such a tablet into a 
wall or of utilising it, as I myself have seen an inscription used, to replace 
the broken leg of a school form. 
What I urge is, that antiquarian remains, unless other well established 
interests exist, should be considered to be State property, and should be 
brought under the protection and management of the State, in the manner 
that Sir J. Lubbock’s Act suggests, or as is provided for in the French 
system of “ Administration des Monuments Nationaux.” And, save under 
permission from competent authority, I would not allow any one to dig, or 
demolish on any such ground, or to remove or place to his private use any 
specimen or relic that may be discovered. Investigations or excavations 
should he carried on upon an approved plan, the fortunate discoverer of any¬ 
thing of interest being obliged, as I believe is the rule in the Central Pro¬ 
vinces, to report the result of his investigation to the Collector or Deputy 
Commissioner. A full description of the discovery should then be for¬ 
warded to the Government, and to the Asiatic Society, and the specimens 
found should, if necessary, become the property of Government for pre¬ 
servation in the Indian Museum. I would not of course advocate that the 
finder should not have every encouragement to describe the result of his 
labours, or obtain full credit for his research. To do this, would be to 
remove what often is the chief incentive to work and to dig. But local 
antiquaries may not always be competent to test whether a discovery is 
really of value or not. My object is to insist on the result of all such in¬ 
vestigations being subjected to the test of efficient criticism, with a view 
to the publication of the results, where they are of value, and to prevent 
what may be of real interest being carried out of the country by those 
who may or may not appreciate its merits. 
The subject, I submit, is not unworthy of the attention of the Asiatic 
Society of Bengal, which has done so much to promote an interest in, and 
to secure a record of the progress of Indian antiquarian research. 
If supported by the weight of the recommendation of the Society, the 
idea would, I am sanguine, receive the attention of the supreme Govern¬ 
ment, many of whose members have evinced a valuable interest in the 
preservation of what still remains to us of the monuments of the Ancient 
History of India. 
In conclusion, I would desire again to call the attention of the Society 
