Asiatic researches, or, Transactions of the Society instituted in Bengal for inquiring into the history and antiquities, the arts, sciences and literature of Asia. Published by Asiatic Society of Bengal. Volume I. London 1802. William Jones set up the Asiatic Society of Bengal and started a journal called Asiatic Researches. In January 1784, Sir William Jones sent out a circular-letter to a selected number of British residents of Calcutta with a view to establish a society for the Asiatic studies. At his invitation, 30 British residents met in the Grand Jury Room of the Supreme Court (in Calcutta's Fort William) on 15 January 1784. The meeting was presided over by Sir Robert Chambers. At this meeting, Jones explained the aims of the Society he would establish. The Memorandum of Articles of the Asiatic Society, prepared by Jones said: The bounds of investigations will be the geographical limits of Asia, and within these limits its enquiries will be extended to whatever is performed by man or produced by nature. Notable early members were Charles Wilkins and Alexander Hamilton (the cousin of the American statesman). The book is important as it lays down the work of Asiatic Society as an institution.
Asiatic Researches
