No.' 12. — 1860-1.] PROCEEDINGS, 18G0. 



iii 



residence, T determined to endeavour to join this Society; though I fear 

 that the nature of my principal former studies, and the requirements on 

 my time which my duties will create, are likely to make me a very 

 inefficient member of your Association. But I shall, at least, watch your 

 labours with cordial good-will and deep attention. Ceylon and Sinhalese 

 literature are so pre-eminently rich in ancient monuments and ancient 

 records, that it is here we may hope to see good work done towards deciding 

 many questions now earnestly discussed by the scholars and philologists of 

 England and Germany. 



Especially there is the great dispute which Gibbon indicated, and which 

 is now warmly revived, whether the East really gave arts, letters, and 

 civilization to the West, or whether all that is of any value in Oriental 

 literature and art, was not derived from a north-western source. I intimate 

 no opinion of my own on this or on the other great questions, as to the 

 primary seats and early currents of population. But I know that they 

 are questions on which many master minds are now intent, and I know 

 that I see here an Association peculiarly qualified to throw light on them. 



Your researches in Statistics, in Geology, and in the Fauna and Flora 

 of this remarkable Island, command also the deepest interest. They have 

 indeed an immediate practical value, which ensures for them the regard 

 of many who would pay comparatively little heed to merely literary topics. 

 I am sure that the time which you devote to the furtherance of the objects 

 of this Society is employed with utility to others as well as with 

 intellectual benefit to yourselves. I once more cordially thank you for the 

 gratifying manner in which you have enrolled me in your ranks, and 

 pledge myself that I will do all in my power to deserve it." 



The following gentlemen were then ballotted for, and declared elected 

 Members, viz : — 



Col. OUVRY, C.B \ Proposed by Mr. J. Capper. 



* Seconded by Mr. C. P. Layard. 

 Moris. P. Grimblot. .\ Proposed by the Rev. B. Boake. 



' Seconded by Mr. J. Capper. 



W. N.D. RAJAPAKSE,Es q .} Pr °P 0Bed b y Mr " C - A - Lorenz - 

 ' Seconded by Mr. C. P. Layard. 



The Rev. C. Merlon. ...Imposed ^ Mr - J - Maitland. 



* Seconded by Mr. Jas. Alwis. 



T'ae Secretary placed on the table the following list of Donations to the 

 Museum 



Twenty-three land shells from Mr. C. P. Layard ; four New Zealand 

 Pheasants, a specimen of Kaiidyan paper 40 years old, and three Ancient. 

 Sinhalese Coins from the Honorable Major Skinner. 



