X 



JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. III. 



would derive the greatest mental profit to himself, by turning his 

 own attention, and that of the native headmen around him, to such 

 subjects as these. 



Sir E. Tennnet, in his hook, makes honorable mention of Sir Alexander 

 Johnstone, of Mr. Justice Starke, of Mr. Casie Chetty and others, 

 who had found time amongst their judicial and public avocations, to 

 contribute to the general stock of useful and interesting information 

 touching this Colony. Dr. Gogerly and Mr. Hardy, too, are repeatedly 

 cited by him as the highest authorities on the religion, history, 

 ancient observations, and ancient languages of the natives ; — and above 

 all, he prominently puts forward our excellent Member, Major Skinner, 

 whom we see amongst us here today, as the indefatigable executant 

 of Sir Edward Barnes's enlightened project of not only opening up — 

 by the great work of the Kandy road — the resources, but securing 

 the future peace of the whole of the interior of the Colony. 



It could not, then, be too strongly impressed on the public, that 

 every man in his department, either in his own person, or by influ- 

 encing those about him, might be aiding in this useful work. The 

 statistics of coffee cultivation, the Pearl Fishery, the Uruboku dam, 

 the Batticaloa irrigation, the tides and currents so seriously affecting 

 the circumnavigating existence of our Colonial steamer ; the state of 

 the elements and atmosphere, so sensibly deranged at every recurring 

 monsoon ; and even the expeditions of the sportsman, if also a 

 naturalist, all afforded opportunity and matter for observation and 

 valuable communications. 



No one could have read the Minutes of the progresses made by 

 our present Governor, through the different Provinces, without being 

 sensible of the great importance attached by him to local researches, 

 and to the development of the material resources of the country. 

 Those Minutes, His Excellency had caused to be presented to our 

 Library, and the Chairman trusted that such an example would not 

 be lost on those who had it in their power, by the acquirement 

 and communication of extensive local information, to establish for 

 themselves one of the best claims for Colonial advancement. 



He concluded by moving that the Report be received and adopted. 



Carried nem> con. 



Proposed by the Honourable the Chief Justice. 

 Seconded by C. A. Lorensz, Esq. 



"That the thanks of the Asiatic Society of Ceylon, are eminently 

 due to Sir H. G. Ward, as the first Governor of this Island, who, 

 by assigning a public building exclusively for a Museum and Library, 

 and by a grant of public money in aid of its funds, lias given to 

 this Society the position of a Colonial Institution. 



