A DISCOURSEj &C. 5 



tt>r, and the Members of the High Regcncy 

 Direclors. The ordirmry Metubers v/ere elcctcd 

 from amonir the most distin.«:uisbed iiihabitants 

 of Batavia^ and the possesslons of the Company ; 

 and it was eiiacted^ that as many as were present' 

 should annually hoid a g'eneral assembij, in oï- 

 der to jiidge and decide upon the answers re- 

 ceived to the different qiieslions proposed, to 

 propose new questions, and to niake generaï re- 

 gnhitions. In addition to tbis general direclioo, 

 a Comnriitlee was nonisaafeJ, coosistisjg of eight 

 Members, with ^ President and Secretary^ who 

 were charged with the daily occurrences, and 

 witb anthority to decide upon and carry iut^ ef- 

 fect whatever might not admit of delaj^ report- 

 ing their proceedings at the ensuiog genera! as- 

 sembly, 



The Society selected as objects of research 

 and enquiry, whatever could be usefiil to agri- 

 Guhure, commerce, and the welfare of the Colo- 

 ny; it encouraged every question relatfng to na- 

 tural hiatory, antiqnities, and the manners and 

 usages of llie Native inhabitants, biit exprrss]j 

 avoided entering upon any subject which might 

 relate to the East India Company ; and in order 

 the better to define the objects and contribnte to 

 their accomplishnirnt, a Programma was from 

 time tü time priuted and circüluted abroad. 



