PROCEEDINGS. xii 
from former Colonial Secretaries, but, (judging from the cordial 
support which in Ceylon he had given to Oriental research and the 
active part he had taken in the work of the Branch of the Royal 
Asiatie Society there) for active co-operation in the work of the 
Society. He had now the honour to propose him as President for 
the year. 
The election by ballot was then proceeded with, with the fol- 
lowing result :— 
President, . ... The Hon'ble J. F. Dickson, c.M.@. 
Vice-President, Singapore, ... W. A. PickEertne, Esquire, c.M.G. 
Vice-President, Penang, ... D. Locan, Esquire. 
Honorary Secretary, ... The Hon’ble W. E. Maxwett,c.M.c. 
Honorary Treasurer, ... E. Korx, Esquire. 
( A. Kynicut, Esquire. 
| Dr. N. B. Dennys. 
Councillors, ... ..  H.1L. Noronua, Esquire. 
| R. W. Hupterr, Esquire. 
_ J. Mitrer, Esquire. 
The President said he was very much obliged to the gentle- 
men present for the honour they had done him in electing him. 
He would have been very glad if they had elected one who had 
distinguished himself by good services to the Society, but as they 
had chosen to adhere to the rule of having the Colonial Secretary 
as President, he would only say that his services would be always 
willingly placed at their disposal, and he would be glad if in any 
way he could assist in furthering its ends. His Oriental studies, 
which Mr. Maxwe tz had too kindly alluded to, had been in a direc- 
tion which he feared could not be taken as leading to results which 
would recommend themselves as interesting to a Branch of the 
Royal Asiatic Society situated in Singapore. They had been main- 
ly confined to a study of the Buddhist scriptures in the original 
Pali with a view to arriving at, and properly understanding, the 
origin and the pure principles of Buddhism; but with the help 
of the older members of the Singapore Branch he hoped to 
