XVI 



our Society is amply compensated for, by the pleasurable 

 emotion we feel in receiving the papers published by se- 

 veral Scientific Societies from very distant parts, in return 

 for our Transactions which we forward to them. 



Thus we are in constant correspondence with London, 

 Paris, Geneva, Calcutta, Melbourne, New York, St. Pe- 

 tersburg and some other countries in the world. 



But we are happy to say that our Society is supported 

 by the flower of the popidation of Mauritius. 



The Mauritians have understood that something like a 

 Museum and a Society of Arts and Sciences, with annual 

 Exhibitions, was required in a colony of such an impor- 

 tance as ours — if not for the sake of the country itself, at 

 least for the sake of appearance before the European 

 world — and they understood the necessity of not allowing 

 either of these institutions to be swept away. 



Thus we find in our ranks, the principal public func- 

 tionaries, heads of Departments, wealthy Merchants, and 

 as Patrons during more than forty years of our existence, 

 our successive Governors. 



If duty or pressure of business now and then keeps 

 away some of these members from our meetings, they 

 are not without contributing their share to the common 

 task, since by supplying their wants, they produce the 

 means of pursuing their labours to the working bees of 

 the hive. 



Port Louis, Friday, 17th December 1875. 



L. BOIJTON, 



Secretary. 



