02 



CEYLON BRANCH ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, 



The collection of facts bearing upon Atmospheric pheno- 

 mena, has been referred by this Society to a Committee, who 

 will, in due time, report the result of their observations. I 

 would here only suggest, that amongst their labours, they 

 should if possible include observations upon Electrical phe- 

 nomena. Our acquaintance with this science is yet but in 

 its infancy, nevertheless it already gives promise of being a 

 most important branch of human knowledge, of shewing 

 electricity to be a potent agent in a variety of forms, as well 

 as a prime mover, in many of the great phenomena of nature. 

 Kegular observations upon the electrical state of the atmos- 

 phere, would probably tend to throw some light upon the 

 origin and progress of epidemics, for in a country so near 

 the Equator as Ceylon, this subtle matter must at times 

 exist in great quantities, sufficiently abundant materially to 

 affect the health of persons constantly exposed to its influence, 

 and it may not be too much to suppose, that this abundance 

 of electricity is the prime cause of the luxuriant vegetation 

 which we meet with within the Tropics. That this subtle 

 fluid has some sensible effect on vegetable life has been 

 proved, or at any rate, been said to be proved, by actual ex- 

 periment ; one or two trials are already making in Ceylon^ 

 and it is to be hoped that others may follow. 



I have now run through all the heads of enquiry, which 

 would appear to present themselves to our research in Cey- 

 lon, where however, labours of this nature cannot be carried 

 on to the extent, nor with the precision which characterizes 

 the inquiries of the statist in European Countries. It is to 

 be hoped, that this Society will prove a repository for the 

 reception of facts from all parts of the Colony, and that 

 researches so intimately connected with our prosperity in 

 every way, may not be neglected by any who have it in 

 their power to render the smallest amount of assistance. 



