A DISCOURSE, &C. 9 



talent. The dircction of the Society wasplaced 

 in the hands of a Directory of nine persons in- 

 cludmg the Secretary, ^vho were chosen from 

 among the Members^ each taking prccedence ia 

 his turn for one month. Corresponding Mem- 

 bcrs were eiected at the principal settlenients 

 and out-stations, and the genera! annual assem - 

 blies were abolished. In the hands of this 

 Directory the Society appears to have deposited 

 every thing ; and considering thedistracted state 

 of the country^ such a conduct raay perhaps have 

 been essential for maintaining its existence during* 

 the convulsed period which ensued. 



Notwithstandingthe exertions of the Directory 

 to complete the seventh volume, it was found 

 impracticablcj and the oniy acquisitions which 

 it appears to have obtained during the period in 

 which the alFairs of the Society were exclusive- 

 ly under its management^ are the Communica- 

 tions of Dr. Thomas Horsfield. This Gentle- 

 man was proposed io the High Regency^ and 

 authorized to prosecutehis Botanieal Researches 

 under the sanclion of Government. After seve- 

 ral exc\irsions in different parts of the Island, he 

 established himself at Souracarta with the view 

 of forming a Flora Javana, forwarding to the 

 Society from time to time reports of his pro- 



B 



