302 Proceedings of Societies. [July, 



yourself from our meetings — and you have taken an active and diligent part 

 in the duties which devolve on your station amongst us. During this period, 

 we have been indebted to your munificence, for a splendid addition to our 

 Museum, of an extensive cabinet of minerals and geological specimens; and 

 this night you have made a valuable addition to our Library, by the Books 

 vhich are now before us. You have never lost sight of us in your occasional 

 visits to different parts of India, andfrom the Himalaya and Penang you have 

 idded to the valuable collection, which we had received from you, specimens 

 collected with your own hands. By your kindness, courtesy, and hospitality 

 to those strangers whom science or literature may have guided to the shores 

 of India you have shewn the respect we bear to their attainments. 



" Sir, half a century has nearly elapsed since this Society was founded by 

 one who was then a Judge of the Court in which you so recently presided. 

 { mean of course that great and good man Sir William Jones, to whose me* 

 (nory we cannot revert without the deepest sentiments of veneration and 

 esteem. Many distinguished persons have since filled that chair, a proud 

 distinction to any man : but I speak with sincerity my own feelings, and 

 those I believe of the gentlemen around me, when I say, that, great as were 

 (he acquirements of many of your predecessors in their various paths of 

 knowledge, the lustre which they have thrown over that chair has been 

 brightened and enhanced by you. 



" I must no longer trespass on your time, but permit me to hope, that on 

 four return to your native country, it may be some satisfaction for you to 

 mow, that you bear with you the respect, the esteem, and the regard of this 

 ?ody, over whom you have so long presided." 



The Acting Secretary was directed to take the usual steps for bringing 

 before the Society, as soon as possible, the subject of the election of a Presi* 

 dent to fill the vacant chair. 



2. — Natural History Society of the Mauritius. 

 Tuesday, 20tk December. 



M. J. V. Sganzin forwarded 17 stuffed birds from Ste. Maria Madagascar. 



Letters from the following parties, acknowledged the receipt of honorary 

 diplomas : the Rev. J. Adamson, D. D. Cape ; Sir W. E. Parry, R. N. f. r. s. 

 New Holland; Sir John Jamison, k. c. v. Sydney; Andrew Smith, Esq. m. d. 

 M. n. s. Algoa Bay ; Le f£bure Marcy, Mah6, Seychelles Islands. 



Other letters were submitted. 



The following works were added to the Library — Annual Report of the Agr. and 

 Hort. Soc. of Sydney ; Journal des lies de France et de Bourbon, 1786-91. 



M. Lislet GeofFroy presented a specimen of Bark obtained from a native 

 chief in Madagascar, in 1815. 



M. C. Telfair, Pres. offered in the name of Capt. Trotter, of the Corvette 

 Curlew, a black Ibis of Agatega; also some sea Cocos from the Praslin Isle, which 

 he was desirous to introduce in the colony. Also, for the Library, a description 

 of the Isle of St. Paul, with two views by Mr. Pollock. 



