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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIV. 



observations which they have had occasion to make in the 

 course of their public duty, an example which has been 

 excellently followed by some whose names are still upon 

 our list. 



Maintaining the Record. 



Such is the brilliant record of the Society's beginnings. 

 The level was maintained, or there was no conspicuous 

 falling-off for several years more. 



In 1853, for instance, Mr. Gogerly was continuing his 

 translations and summaries of the Pali texts ; Mr. Brodie, 

 his contributions from Puttalam ; while Mr. Layard, who 

 was now the energetic Secretary, and Mr. Kelaart were 

 furnishing valuable notes on the Birds of the Island. 



The position occupied by the Society in this period may 

 be gathered from the fact that Government looked to it to 

 collect objects of interest for the great Exhibition of 1851, 

 and afterwards for the Paris Exhibition of 1855. The 

 collection made for 1851 does not seem to have satisfied the 

 officers of the Society, and in 1855 we declined to undertake 

 the task ; but the medals and certificates obtained on both 

 occasions were handed by Government to the Society's 

 keeping. 



It had now its paid Librarian and paid Taxidermist ; local 

 Committees had been formed (1852) in Jaffna and Kandy ; 

 there were special Committees on Oriental Studies, on 

 Statistics, and on Science; photographic apparatus for photo- 

 graphing temples and other monuments, and electro-plating 

 apparatus for copying coins, had been purchased by the 

 Society. 



A Draivback. 



But there was one drawback continually felt. The Society 

 suffered, especially from 1851 to 1855, from the want of 

 suitable rooms of its own. It shared rooms with the Loan 

 Board ; but these afforded little convenience for keeping the 

 steadily increasing Library and collections. In 1852 it was 

 proposed to join with the Athenaeum — a Society, started in 

 1850, whose aims were not held to be in conflict or rivalry 



