16 A DÏSCOURSE;, &C. 



lents, abilitj, and industry> the most sanguine 

 expcctations mav be realized. 



Pvlr. JMimtinghe alsa^ wbose eniarsred views 

 and extraordinarj eodowments so peculiarlj qna- 

 lifj bim to direct you in the paths of Science and 

 liiterature^ will not be wanting in contributing 

 Iiis share to the general purposes of the Societj. 

 He bas ah'oady collected many highly inter- 

 csting tracts on the Native Laws and ïnstitutions 

 as i\ïQv are traced to have existed antecedent to 

 the introduction of the Mahomedan faith ; and 

 when bis inforniation is more mature and bis 

 coliections more complete, we are jiistiSed in 

 the expectation^ tbat be will devote to the. So- 

 ciety some portion of tbat extcnsive stock of 

 iiterary acqairement and sound judgrasut for 

 which he stands so eminently conspicuous. 



To the learned Professor Ross, i\\e Societv 

 ia ah'eady bi^hiy indebted^ and while we cannot 

 bilt Gonsider our thanks as peculiarly due to this 

 Gentleman for b.is e^^ertions in preserving tbe 

 existence of tbe Society duriug a period of pccu- 

 liar delicacy and difficulty/ I am satisfied tbat 

 we mav look to him and theother Dutcb Members 

 for tbe most essential aid in future. To parti- 

 cularize in many of these Members would per- 

 liaps be iiividious to the whole^ but if I may be 



