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such tokens of kindly feeling. I am carrying away 

 with me many affectionate memories of this Island 

 and its people, and 1 am gratified to know that during 

 my two years and a half of government I have been 

 so fortunate as to win the esteem of the members of 

 the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of Mauritius. 



'' Your Society, gentlemen, has long occupied a 

 high place in this community, in which it maintains 

 an organised centre of scientific and intellectual effort. 

 I wish it; many years of prosperity and continued 

 usefulness ; and I feel sure that it will always be an 

 agreeable duty to the Governors of Mauritius to give 

 you the countenance and support you so well deserve. 



" It is true that I have endeavoured to cooperate 

 with you as occasion offered, and when any object 

 connected with Science or Art required to be promoted. 

 But what I have done, has been no more than to give 

 you the opportunity of engaging in the labours you 

 love, — labours wherein you have achieved results for 

 which the people as well as the Government of Mau- 

 ritius are grateful to you, and which have been reco- 

 gnised in the scientific world. 



" If, in the Colony to which I am going, I can 

 ever in any way further any object of your Society, 

 believe me, it will give me great pleasure to do so. 



" F. Napier Become, 

 " Lieutenant-Goveraor, 



" Reduit, 3rd May, 1883," 



