No, 46— 1895.] JUBILEE COMMEMORATION. 



77" 



with our own — and to obtain from Government apartments 

 for the common use of the two Societies. In 1853 the 

 Honorary Secretary, Mr. Layard, suggested that the Society, 

 in co-operation with the Athenaeum, should build with the 

 aid of public subscription. 



It was on November 22, 1852, that the first suggestion — as 

 far as I have been able to trace — of a Museum to be built 

 with the aid of Government was made, in a letter from 

 Kadugannawa, by Mr. E. F. Kelaart. But just when the 

 prospects of the Society appeared to be no less brilliant than 

 its actual position, the loss of some of its leading Members 

 brought to light the inherent weakness of all institutions 

 of this kind, the dependence on the zeal of individuals. 



In 1854 Mr. Capper resigned the office of Secretary on 

 leaving the Island. In 1855 very little was done, and 

 in 1856 — so short is gratitude, and even memory, in a 

 fluctuating community — the Society could be spoken of as 

 having been " for some time dormant," and as needing to be 

 "revived." No subscription had been collected for two 

 years. The want of a suitable room — the Loan Board being 

 under repair — was no doubt among the causes of this 

 decline ; and a room was now rented at £1 a month. 



Among those who at this crisis saved the Society were pro- 

 minent Mr. C. P. Layard, Mr. W. Skeen, and Dr. Willisford. 



The years 1856-1858 however were poor ; at a General 

 Meeting in 1857 we find only nine, and in 1858 only seven 

 Members present. Mr. Edgar Layard left for the Cape in 

 1858 ; and although in that year Mr. Capper returned to 

 Ceylon the records of satisfactory work continue to be 

 scanty ; though a few good Papers were read, notably one 

 in 1862, on the Sinhalese Language, by Mr. Childers. 



The Military Museum. 



Energy was still exhibited, however, in one direction ; the 

 efforts for a Museum were continued ; and the Military 

 Museum was taken over by the Society in 1862. In the 

 following year Sir Charles Macarthy is represented as 



