Anniversary General Meeting, President's Address, 13th May 2010

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 581-583
Author(s):  
Gordon Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
General Meeting ◽  
Asian Studies ◽  
The Public ◽  
Asiatic Society ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Learned Societies ◽  
Royal Charter ◽  
Support Research ◽  
Royal Asiatic Society

Like a number of other learned societies founded in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the Royal Asiatic Society was established to support research and to disseminate knowledge to the public. It depends for its charitable status and the privileges attached to its Royal Charter on upholding these objectives. The Society has a good record in this respect, extending now over 186 years. To some degree, the work of the learned societies was first intruded on, and then taken over by, the universities as they grew in number, expanded their curricula, and went in for research as well as teaching. This was particularly true of the twentieth century where, in our field of interest, Asian studies in the humanities and social sciences became firmly lodged in several universities in the United Kingdom. But there always remained a place, particularly one where professional academics and the wider public could meet, for Society's such as ours to flourish; and, looking ahead, as university budgets come under greater pressure, I foresee a growing role for the Royal Asiatic Society in the future in ensuring that the interest and importance of understanding Asian societies and cultures remains in the forefront of the public mind.

scholarly journals Art. XXI.—Some Account of the Systems of Law and Police as recognised in the State of Nepál

1834 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 258-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Houghton Hodgson
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Separate Paper ◽  
The Public ◽  
Asiatic Society ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Careful Comparison ◽  
Satisfactory Manner ◽  
Royal Asiatic Society

[With a view to obtain correct and authentic information on the subject of Nepálese law, both in its theoretical principles and practical administration, Mr. Hodgson addressed a series of questions to several individuals who were judged most capable of replying to them in a full and satisfactory manner. Copies of these series of interrogatories, with their respective answers, have been communicated by him to the Royal Asiatic Society (together with a separate paper on crimes and punishments); and the following article has been drawn up from a careful comparison of the whole, excluding as much as possible the repetitions unavoidably occurring, in many instances, in the various answers to any particular question. A reference to the works of Kirkpatrick, Hamilton, and others, will shew how little has hitherto been contributed to the knowledge of Europeans respecting Oriental systems of jurisprudence, as far as regards the kingdom of Nepal; it is therefore particularly gratifying to be enabled to produce so complete a view of the subject as has been furnished by Mr. Hodgson, whose perseverance and energy in obtaining an acquaintance with these and other matters hitherto kept sacred from all strangers, are only equalled by the intelligent and liberal manner in which he communicates to the public the information he has acquired.—Ed.

scholarly journals Art. XVII.—On Female Infanticide in Cutch

1834 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-199
Author(s):  
Alexander Burnes
Keyword(s):  
Female Infanticide ◽  
The Public ◽  
Asiatic Society ◽  
Royal Asiatic Society

As the following remarks by a member of the Council of the Royal Asiatic Society may be considered an appropriate introduction to this subject, they are here prefixed.I Have perused with attention the report on Hindú Infanticide in Cutch, by Mr. Burnes, affording evidence of the assiduity which marks all his researches.Its publication in our Journal I should judge every way desirable; for it calls the notice of the public to the circumstance that the total suppression of this practice has not been effected; and we cannot aspire to higher merit than in laudably exerting ourselves to the promotion of such public measures as may tend to the well-doing of our fellow-creatures.

Report of the Honorary Treasurer to the Anniversary General Meeting on 12 May 2011

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 547-549
Author(s):  
Diccon Pullen
Keyword(s):  
Annual Report ◽  
General Meeting ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Asiatic Society ◽  
Royal Asiatic Society

Fellows of the Royal Asiatic Society, ladies and gentlemen, I am honoured to present the annual Report and Financial Statements of your Society for the year ended 31 December 2010, copies of which you should have found on your seats.

Anniversary General Meeting of the Royal Asiatic Society, Thursday 13 May 2004

2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-306
Author(s):  
Francis Robinson
Keyword(s):  
General Meeting ◽  
Asiatic Society ◽  
The Past ◽  
Current Deficit ◽  
Suitable Location ◽  
Royal Asiatic Society

I should like to begin by thanking the Honorary Treasurer for his admirably succinct report for 2003. I would like to assure you that Council takes his main points very seriously, that is the need to eliminate the current deficit of around £35k, and the connected imperative to move to a more suitable building in a more suitable location. Over the past seven years the Honorary Treasurer has been a great servant of the Society. On behalf of Council, and the fellowship, I thank him for his skills and for keeping us focussed on the need to act.

scholarly journals Art. XI.—Lecture on the present State of the Cultivation of Oriental Literature

1852 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 191-215
Author(s):  
H. H. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Great Britain ◽  
Present State ◽  
The Political ◽  
The Public ◽  
Asiatic Society ◽  
Political Identification ◽  
Literature History ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Royal Asiatic Society

It has been judged possible, by the Council of the Royal Asiatic Society, that the objects for which the Society was founded, and for which it is maintained, may be made more generally known, and more accurately appreciated, by the adoption of arrangements of a more popular character than our ordinary proceedings, and which may interest a more numerous and varied portion of the public than the Members of the Society only, in matters concerning the Eastern World. It is not to be denied that the subjects which in a peculiar degree engage the attention of the Society,—the antiquities and literature of the nations of the East,—have hitherto failed to receive that attention from the public at large which might have been expected, if not from their own inherent interest, yet from our long and intimate intercourse with the most important countries of Asia, and the political identification of India and Great Britain. Works of high merit, elucidating Oriental literature, history, antiquities, religion, the conditions of Asiatic society in past or present times, and descriptive of the products of art or nature in the East, usually meet with a cold and discouraging reception, even from the reading world, or at most attract passing and ephemeral notice, leaving no durable impression, creating no continuous and progressive interest.

The Dorothy and Horace Quaritch Wales Bequest — A Note

1995 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-92
Author(s):  
John Guy
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Southeast Asian ◽  
Asian Studies ◽  
Asiatic Society ◽  
Southeast Asian Studies ◽  
Asian History ◽  
Queens College ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
State Functions ◽  
Royal Asiatic Society

The Royal Asiatic Society has recently been a beneficiary from the estate of Mrs Dorothy Wales, widow of H. G. Quaritch Wales, the erudite scholar of early Southeast Asian history who died in 1981. The occasion of this bequest, the contents of which are discussed in the Librarian's report herein (pp. 169–70), prompts this note on the contribution of Quaritch Wales to Southeast Asian studies.Quaritch Wales was born in 1900 and educated at Charterhouse and Queens' College, Cambridge. He immediately embarked on a career in Southeast Asia, from which he was never to be deflected. At the age of 23 he entered the service of the Siamese Government where he served from 1924 to 1928 as an adviser to the courts of King Rama VI and King Rama VII. The first-hand knowledge gained from this experience formed the basis of his pioneering study Siamese State Ceremonies (1931), which remains a work of unrivalled insight into the Brahmanical rituals and Buddhist accretions of Thai kingship. He followed this with another work based on his experiences of Thai court and state functions, Ancient Siamese Government and Administration (1934).

scholarly journals Art. II.—Letters to the Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society

1841 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 11-41
Author(s):  
W. Morley ◽  
Duncan Forbes
Keyword(s):  
The Public ◽  
French Government ◽  
Asiatic Society ◽  
The Press ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Time ◽  
Royal Asiatic Society

Whilst I was engaged last year in making a catalogue of the Oriental MSS. comprised in the libraries of the Society and the Oriental Translation Committee, I met with the historical MS. which is the subject of the following letter. I, at that time, applied to the Council of the Society for permission to forward a description of the MS. to M. Quatremere, who is employed in editing the only portion of the work hitherto known, in the hope that he would represent the matter to the French Government, and cause our MS. to be published in the “Collection Orientale,” as a sequel to his “Histoire des Mongols.” The council acceded to my request, and I accordingly wrote to M. Quatremère on the subject, but whether on account of my letter not having reached its destination or from the press of business, he has not as yet returned any answer to my communication. In the mean time, I think it desirable that the existence of this important volume should be made known to the public, and I have accordingly drawn up the following account of the MS. for insertion in the Journal of the Society.

scholarly journals The Royal Asiatic Society Award 2001

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Stockwell
Keyword(s):  
Gold Medal ◽  
The Other ◽  
Asian Studies ◽  
Search Committee ◽  
Asiatic Society ◽  
Royal Asiatic Society

AbstractAt the start of the millennium Council reviewed medals and prizes and decided to discontinue the Gold Medal (which had not in any case been awarded for some time) and establish in its place the Society's Award. This Award will be made every two or three years in recognition of outstanding scholarship in Asian studies. Having considered a number of tenders, Council commissioned Ms Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn to design and cast a medal bearing versions of two of the original Daniell images: the elephant and howdah on one side and the banyan-tree on the other (see John Hansman, “The Emblems, Medals and Medallists of the Royal Asiatic Society”, JRAS [1984 Part 1], pp. 99–119. Council approved the nomination of Mr John M. Gullick, who was recommended by a search committee (chaired by the Director) to be the first recipient of the RAS Award. On 10 January 2002 the President presented the RAS Award for 2001 to Mr Gullick who replied with a lecture, “An Indian official in Singapore: Governor Cavanagh (1859–1867)”.

Annual General Meeting 7th May 2009, President's Address

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-554
Author(s):  
Anthony Stockwell
Keyword(s):  
Public Life ◽  
General Meeting ◽  
Annual General Meeting ◽  
Asiatic Society ◽  
Geographical Society ◽  
Zoological Society ◽  
Royal Astronomical Society ◽  
Founder Member ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Royal Asiatic Society

Fellows of the Society and guests. At each Anniversary General Meeting we commemorate the inauguration of the Society in 1823 and reaffirm our founders’ commitment to the encouragement of research and the dissemination of learning in relation to Asia. In his address at the first meeting, Henry Colebrooke declared that Britain owed a “debt of gratitude” to Asia and had a duty to repay its “obligation” by “promoting an interchange of benefits”. It was a time of vigorous British expansion in Asia; but it was also a time of woeful indifference in Britain to Asian societies and cultures. In those days universities did little to make good such neglect. Indeed, lamenting the ignorance of Asia in British public life, another founder-member of the Society, Sir George Staunton, would later emphasise its educational function. It was, he said “the province of the Royal Asiatic Society . . . to bring together into one focus those who are able to impart this knowledge, and those who are desirous to receive it”. Clearly the RAS was established to meet a national need, as were other learned societies of the same era, such as the Royal Astronomical Society formed three years earlier, the Zoological Society of London formed three years later and the Royal Geographical Society which came into being in 1830.

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