— 144 — 



And now, Grentlemen, let me rejoice with tlie Hon. 

 Mr Newton, the Secretary and the Treasurer, at the pro- 

 gress of the Society, at the increase in the number of its 

 Members, and at the zeal and labors of many of those 

 members during the year. Thanks to the exertions of 

 Mr Bewsher who is not only a very zealous scientific 

 member, but also a most active and efficient Treasurer, 

 our finances are highly prosperous. AVe have been able 

 to order from England and France a valuable collection 

 of the most recent and useful scientific books. We intend 

 soon to send another order, and we will try to render our 

 scientific library as complete and as useful as possible. 

 Whilst I sincerely congratulate those members who have 

 favored us with their contribution this year, I invite and 

 I entreat the educated yomig gentlemen of Mauritius to 

 join this Society, and to devote some of their leisure to 

 the study of Art and Science. 



If the advancement of knowledge makes it more and 

 more difllcult to master, at the same time, several different 



branches of science, each separate branch offer a wider 

 and more attractive field to the aptitude and to the tastes 

 of human intellect. Young men anxious to study and to 

 learn are often discouraged by the want of proper books, 

 and by the absence of fellow workers to help them and to 

 appreciate and encourage their exertions and their pro- 

 gress. Here we ofi:er to them the books, the example and 

 the approval of their seniors. They see, in the Hon. Mr 

 Newton among others, the bright example of one high in 

 office, and with little leisure, devoting his spare moments 



