Inauguration of the Forlong Fund

Documents and correspondence concerned with the initial bequest and how it should be applied. These are:
* 'Excerpt from Trust Disposition and Settlement of Major-General James George Roche Forlong, of No. 11, Douglas Crescent, Edinburgh, dated 3rd March, 1898' - copy of the terms of the bequest to the Royal Asiatic Society along with those of two codicils, dated 22 February 1901 and 28 October 1902. Typed, 3 pieces.
* Letter from Martin, Milligan and Macdonald to the Royal Asiatic Society informing of the death of Mrs Lavinia Forlong and that as her executors they wish to inform the Society of her bequest of a portrait in oil of General Forlong which they will despatch to the Society. They also act for General Forlong's trustees and will write further concerning his bequest. This letter is annotated, 'Portrait received 15th Sept, Acknowledged 16th Sept'. Typed, 1 piece, dated 8 September 1913.
* Letter from Martin, Milligan and Macdonald to the Royal Asiatic Society to ask whether the Government or other parties had decided to create a School for the study of Oriental languages. Typed, 1 piece, dated 10 October 1913.
* Copy of a letter from Charlotte Hughes, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Martin, Milligan and Macdonald to send documents concerning the possibility of setting up of a School. She also informs that a building in Finsbury Circus is being prepared. Handwritten, 1 piece, dated 17 October 1913.
* Letter from Martin, Milligan and Macdonald to Charlotte Hughes, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to thank for her letter and reports and to note she will send the latest report. Typed, 1 piece, dated 18 October1913.
* Letter from Alex Wilson, T.H. Wilson & Co., Solicitors, to Charlotte Hughes, Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose a letter from Martin, Milligan and Macdonald stating they are preparing the bequest but because the markets were depressed they did not wish to force the sales. Wilson advises the Society accepts this situation. The letter is with this letter. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 28-29 November 1913.
* Letter from T.W. Rhys Davids to Charlotte Hughes to share his opinion upon the Bequest of Forlong. He writes that Forlong made the bequest in response to an appeal to help with the Oriental Translation Fund, and therefore her interpretation of the codicil he believes is correct. Handwritten, 1 piece, dated 10 February 1914.
* Letter from Alex Wilson to Charlotte Hughes to send the cheque received from the solicitors of General Forlong Executors. He asks for information with regard to a small school of Oriental studies referred to in the codicil. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 26 February 1914.
* Letter from Alex Wilson to Charlotte Hughes to give advice to the Society as trustees of the fund. He encloses a copy of the case as submitted to Sir Robert Finlay, barrister, and a memorandum of the costs. These are not with the letter, Typed, 1 pieces, dated 11 May 1914.
* 'Forlong Bequest Committee Report, February 23rd 1917' - report of the meetings of the Committee in February and on 7th May. Typed, 1 piece.
* 'Application of Forlong Trust' - notes about how the Forlong Trust may be used. Written by Charles James Lyall, Member of the Council. Handwritten, 1 piece, dated 21 May 1917.
* Letter from Alex Wilson to Ella Sykes, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to enquire regarding the Forlong Fund and the exact position regarding the money and the proposed School. This is annotated by Ella Sykes concerning her reply. Typed with handwritten annotations, 2 pieces, dated 2 July 1921.
* Letter from Alex Wilson to Ella Sykes to thank for her letter and to advise that he felt payment for printing of the Lectures given could be delivered under the Fund. The letter has a postscripts suggesting the lectures might be published in the Society's Journal. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 8 July 1921.
* Letter from Alex Wilson to Ella Sykes to advise the Society to work with the Governing Body of the School of Oriental Studies in order to work out the use of the interest from the Forlong Bequest. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 13 March 1922.
* 'James Forlong Bequest Proposals' - a report suggesting the monies from the bequest be divided between Lectures, Bursaries, Publications and Research. Typed, 1 piece, undated.
* 'Report of the Committee of James G.R. Forlong Fund' for 28 March 1922 minuting the decisions made at the meeting. Typed, 1 piece.
* Letter from Edward Perowne, Solicitor, to Ella Sykes to give his opinion upon the use of the Forlong Fund as he will be unable to attend the Finance Meeting. Typed, 3 pieces, dated 25 April 1922.
* 'James Forlong Fund Committee, October 24th, 1922' - report of the meeting of the Fund Committee. Typed, 1 piece.

The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded by the eminent Sanskrit scholar Sir Henry Thomas Colebrooke on the 15th March 1823. It received its Royal Charter from King George IV on the 11th August 1824 'for the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia'. It continues as a forum for those who are interested in the languages, cultures and history of Asia to meet and exchange ideas. The Library Committee was briefly formed in 1937 to oversee the production of a Catalogue. It was re-instituted in 1966 and serves to oversee strategy and management concerning the Society's Collections.

The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded by the eminent Sanskrit scholar Sir Henry Thomas Colebrooke on the 15th March 1823. It received its Royal Charter from King George IV on the 11th August 1824 'for the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia'. It continues as a forum for those who are interested in the languages, cultures and history of Asia to meet and exchange ideas. The Library Committee was briefly formed in 1937 to oversee the production of a Catalogue. It was re-instituted in 1966 and serves to oversee strategy and management concerning the Society's Collections.

The portrait of James Forlong was received by the Society and recorded in its Journal (January 1914) under 'Additions to the Library': "Portrait in oils of the late Major-General J.G.R. Forlong by J.A. Mackay". It is no longer part of the Collections. It is not known when it was disposed of though in the Society's list of paintings for 1917, it is not mentioned.

Published