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Letter to the Secretary from His Excellency the 

 Honourable Frederic North, Governor of 

 Ceylon ; introductory to the jolloxving Essay. 



WILLIAM HUNTER, Esq. 



Secretary to the Society for Asiatic Researches, ^c. S^c. S^c, 



SIR, Calcutta. 



I HAVE the honour of transmitting to you, to be 

 laid before the Committee of Papers, an Essay on 

 the Religion and Customs of tlie Cingalese, drawn 

 up by Mr. Joinville, surveyor general to this 

 government. 



It is necessary to mention, that this Essay was, 

 concluded before the arrival on this island of the 

 embassy of Colonel Symes, and of the account of 

 the Religion and Customs of the Inhabitants of 

 Burmah by Doctor Buchanan, contained in the 

 sixth volume of the Researches of the Society. 



I have the honour to be. 

 Sir, 

 Your most obedient humble Servant, 



FREDERIC NORTH. 



Colombo, 

 Q7th September 1801. 



