12 INAUGURAL ADDRESS 



asked whether the Raffles Library is not sufficient. It is in 

 fact a great deal more than sufficient in one way, but insufficient 

 in others. I need not say that a very large number of the at- 

 tractive looking volumes on those shelves would not be of much 

 use to such a Society as this. And, on the other hand, a great 

 many books, &c, required for the purposes of the Society, 

 would not be necessary in a general collection. As I 

 have said before, I hope that one important feature of the 

 Library will be as complete a collection as possible of the books 

 that have been written in the Malay and kindred languages 

 In the Library, too, will be found, I hope, many M. S. commu- 

 nications to the Society, such as notices of short Journeys, which 

 though not of sufficient importance to be printed, yet deserve 

 to be carefully preserved for reference. 



This then is the Society, its work and its modus operandi. 

 I cannot but regret that your choice of a President for this year 

 has not fallen upon some one who would have done better jus- 

 tice to a great subject. But the objects we are aiming* at speak 

 for themselves, and I think we have every reason to be sanguine 

 in our expectation that the Society may take a worthy and ho- 

 noured place among those institutions which are conferring be- 

 nefits upon mankind, by removing a part of the ignorance and 

 misconception, which hide from our view some of the most 

 wonderful works of God. 



