SELECT PAPERS ON THE SUBJECT OF EXPRESSING THE LANGUAGES OF THE EAST IN THE ENGLISH CHARACTER, EXTRACTED FROM THE PERIODICALS PUBLISHED AT CALCUTTA, IN THE EARLY PART OF THE YEAR 1834. FROM THE SERAMPORE PRESS. 257813. SELECT PAPERS, &c. To the President, Vice Presidents, and Committee of the DEAR GENTLEMEN, I have the pleasure to submit to your notice an English and Oordoo Dictionary, prepared by Mr. Thompson of Delhi at the E. request of Mr. Trevelyan, who from acquaintance with his talents considered him well capable of executing such a work. It is designed to assist natives in the Upper Provinces in the acquisition of English, and Europeans in the study of Oordoo. It was expected that the work, if approved, would be printed at the expense of the Society, and as usual 150 copies allowed to the author as a remuneration for his labour; but from a private letter of Mr. Thompson's it appears that 1,000 Rupees is the least he would expect if the Society accept the work, and that he thinks he could realize considerably more than this by printing it himself. Under this view of the case, Mr. Trevelyan and myself think it would be best for the Society to subscribe for 200 copies, and let Mr. T. print for himself. It seems, however, desirable that this subscription for two hundred copies should be made on the express condition that, while the Society consent to Mr. Thompson's receiving the benefit of any edition he may print, he shall allow them to print for themselves if they deem it necessary. Past experience has proved that it is not an eligible plan to employ the resources of the Society in the patronizing of works over which they A |