INAUGURAL ADDRESS 11 . 



since the matter was first mooted, I think that fact alone shews- 

 that a great deal of interest is felt in the objects which those 

 who first moved in it had at heart. 



And the time is a propitious one for many reasons. I will 

 only mention one. The opening- of the Native States has placed 

 a small band of Englishmen within reach of some of the least 

 known parts of the Peninsula. I am happy to say that every 

 one of the Residents has joined us, and several of the other 

 officers who are stationed with them. Some of these gentlemen 

 are already well known for their exteusive research in some of 

 the questions that are most interesting to us. And every one 

 of them lias a grand opportunity of acquiring large stores of 

 information, and of facilitating the acquisition of it by others. 

 I should think it must be an encouragement and a solace to men 

 living in the isolated positions in which they are placed, to feel 

 that the results of their labour and observation need not be con- 

 signed to the respectable oblivion of blue-books, but may be 

 communicated at once to a sympathizing and appreciative public. 



Another means by which the Society is to work is by the 

 monthly General Meetings, of which this is the first. At these 

 meetings some of the papers communicated to the Society will 

 be rsad, and the subjects of them discussed. Gatherings of this 

 kind, for puiely intellectual purposes, are rather a new feature 

 in our Colonial life, and I think a most desirable oue ; and we 

 may hope that the conversations we shall have here will tend 

 to keep up an interest in the proceedings, and perhaps set some 

 of us upon studying subjects which we have neglected before. 



The Journal is of course the chief instrument by the help of 

 which the work we have in hand is to be attempted. It is pro- 

 posed, for the present, to publish a number every six months, 

 beginning in July next. The number of contributions already 

 promised shews that we are not for the present, at all events^ 

 likely to be short of matter ; and if the supply should continue 

 as abundant as it promises to be the Commitee may think it 

 right to try a more frequent issue. But that of course must 

 depend very much upon the reception which the first number 

 meets with. For however learned, and however enthusiastic the 

 Society may be, it will not be able to express its learning, or 

 give vent to its ardour in paper and printer's ink without funds. 



The last feature of the scheme is the Library. It is proposed 

 to make a small and very special collection of the books which 

 are the best authorities upon these countries, and which will be 

 guides to students, and helps to collectors. It may perhaps bo 



