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ivhich commerce and agricultuvej would be but an oral 

 tradition, a simple routine. 



The Honorable President, at one of our meetings, 

 inquired v/hy our Society, like that of Reunion, which 

 bears the same title, should not occupy itself Avith 

 literary pursuits, and call upon the poets of Mauritius 

 to join in its labours ? Another idea Avas suggested by 

 the Secretary, vizt. : the creation of a section for his- 

 tory as well as one for poetry. Pie knows several per- 

 sons who have been actively employed during many 

 years past in collecting materials for a History of Mau- 

 ritius, that small speck in the Avorld which was the 

 scene of so many great events, one of the most remar- 

 kable of which was the abolition of slavery and the 

 triumph of free labor. 



Why should we not give our assistance to those who 

 have undertaken the task of relating these events. If 

 the occurrences of the past interest us to-day, those of 

 our oAvn times, in the annals of Mauritius, will not fail 

 equally to interest our decendants. There is a great 

 deal to gather and a great deal to say. 



There are, on one side, useful reforms tending to 

 keep up and secure the stability of Government, and 

 the safety and welfare of the governed, vast plans of 

 improvement, and an ardent soUicitude for the public 

 health, and on the other side, the hand of assistance 

 extended to grief and misfortune, drying up tears, heal- 

 ing sores and leaving behind it imperishable recollect- 

 ions. It is also, on one side active vigilance and on the 

 other private charity both equally blended. The his- 

 torians of our times will therefore have a pleasing task 

 before them. 



Authors, poets and historians should therefore gain 

 access to us, and our doors will, no doubt, shortly be 

 opened to them. The greatest obstacle which attends 

 their labours, is the difficulty, for want of sufficient 

 meaiiy, of giving them publicity, obstacles Avhich never- 

 theless might easily be surmounted with the aid of sub- 

 scriptions in which our Society would be foremost iu 

 joining. 



Who but knows what great things arc daily accom- 



