Royal Asiatic Society (Monday, June 17)

"Royal Asiatic Society. - (Monday, June17.) Sir Frederick Goldsmid in the chair. - Mr. Edward G. Browne read his second paper on ' The Bábís of Persia.' in which an account was given of their literature and doctrines, and an attempt made to trace the development of the latter from those advanced by Sheykh Ahmad Ahsá’í and his successor Hájí Seyyid Kázim, who was the teacher of Mirza 'Ali Muhammad the Báb. The literature to be examined was divided into four periods, as follows: (1) The writings of Sheykh Ahmad and his successor, which were briefly considered, only the chief peculiarities of their doctrines being indicated. (2) The writings of the Báb himself, and some of his contemporaries; the former being further subdivided into those composed before their author claimed to be divinely inspired, and those written subsequently to this claim. Of the first class only one work is known, the so-called ‘Book of the Pilgrimage,’ which is a form of prayer to be used on visiting the tombs of the Imáms. Of the second class the commentary on the chapter of the Kurán called the Sura-i-Yúsuf, and the Persian Beyán, which represents the ultimate development of the Báb's views, were most fully discussed. A work of uncertain authorship called ‘The Seven Proofs’ was then described, and a sketch was given of the line of argument adopted by the Bábís in dealing with those of other creeds, especially Muhammadans. A poem attributed to the Bábí heroine and martyr Kurrat-ul-Ayn, and a letter written by the fellow sufferer of the Báb to his elder brother on the night preceding his execution, were also noticed. (3) The writings of the third period, called ' The Interval,' during which Mírzá Yahyá, under the title of 'His Highness the Eternal,' acted as chief of the sect, were then described, especial attention being bestowed on a work called ‘I'kán' (the Assurance) by Behá, who had not at that time put forward his claim to supremacy. (4) The last period embraced the writings of Behá composed at a date subsequent to this claim, the first of which was an epistle addressed to one entitled Nasír. The epistles addressed to the kings and rulers of some of the principal countries of Europe and Asia were next discussed in detail. These were six in number, the longest being the letter to Násiru'd-Dín Sháh, King of Persia. Of the others, the letter to Napoleon III. is of special interest, inasmuch as the downfall of the latter is therein foretold. The letters to the Pope of Rome and the Queen of England are also curious. In the latter much commendation is bestowed on the English nation because of the part taken by them in the abolition of slavery, while their system of representative government is highly applauded. Most of these letters appear to have been written about the year 1869. The paper concluded with an analysis of the contents of the latest and most systematic of Behá's works called the 'Most Holy Tablet,' wherein the prescriptions of the new religion are arranged, revised, and codified. - An interesting discussion followed, in which Dr. Leitner, Mr. Kay, and Sir F. Goldsmid took part.