Annual Meeting, Jan. 21st, 1858. xv. 



enumerated, several of Professor Wilson's publications, in- 

 cluding his Sanscrit Dictionary, and Grammar, and the 

 Laleta Vestra, the legendary Life of Budhu, now publishing 

 in the Bibliotheca Indica at Calcutta. 



The Society's Museum, the Committee regret to state, 

 has, for some time past, from the want of a Curator, been 

 greatly neglected. This want they hope to remedy, by the 

 appointment to that office of a gentleman who has signified 

 his willingness to discharge the duties of the appointment 

 until the Society may be in a position to effect better arrange- 

 ments. Considering how rich Ceylon is in natural produc- 

 tions, it is to be lamented that the funds of the Society will 

 not allow of the appointment of a salaried Curator and 

 Taxidermist, 



The Committee see no reason why Ceylon should not, 

 aided by Government, obtain a Museum, similar to those 

 which now flourish in South Africa, and in the Presidencies 

 of India. The report of the former has been forwarded to 

 your Society, by order of His Excellency the Governor of 

 the Cape, with a letter from Mr. Edgar Layard, the Curator, 

 in which he expresses a hope that " the Society may be dis- 

 posed to sanction a system of mutual exchange." 



The Committee would, in conclusion, urge upon the Mem- 

 bers individually the desirableness of increased efforts on 

 behalf of the Society. 



To the resident Members in Colombo they would recom- 

 mend the resumption of the Evening Meetings, from which 

 in times past much benefit was derived. In the language of 

 a former Report, they " have a sensible influence on the 

 prosperity of the Society, tending as they do, to the opening 

 up of new subjects of enquiry, and generally imparting ad- 

 ditional vigour to the efforts of its Members." 



Joint Secretaries [ Jt 



