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



" Personally, I regret that my early opportunities and associations 

 have not permitted me to take an active and practical interest in the 

 work of the Society, and as I believe I fill the position of Vice-Patron, 

 I feel the greater rebuke, but I have some comfort in finding that 

 my distinguished predecessor, Sir Emerson Tennent, whose stupendous 

 industry is recorded in the two volumes of his excellent and most 

 useful work of reference on Ceylon, was not able to take any more 

 active part in the transactions of the Society than bis humbler 

 follower, myself, has been able to do (laughter). 



" In attending Meetings of the Society, for which Papers were pre- 

 pared by Members at great sacrifice of time and great trouble, I have 

 regretted to see the comparatively empty benches to which these 

 addresses have been delivered, and I hope that the interest which has 

 been aroused this evening on the occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary 

 of the Society will bring a larger number together at future Meetings. 

 Those who prepare the addresses may have their reward in the 

 pleasure of their pursuit, but I have not the least doubt that they are 

 not unsusceptible of the sympathy of a large and attentive audience. 

 (Applause.) 



" I was gratified by the reference which his Lordship made to Sir W. 

 Gregory. I can personally testify to the great interest which he took 

 in this building, the father and founder of it as he was, and it was only 

 on the occasion of his last visit here that I with my colleagues on the 

 Museum Committee had the opportunity of seeing practical evidence 

 of the interest which he took in this Institution. When I first came 

 to Ceylon eight years ago I remember that Sir Arthur Gordon, to 

 whom reference has also been made, and who also takes a great interest 

 in the Museum and Asiatic Society, laid considerable emphasis on the 

 trust which I accepted and endeavoured to carry out, by paying as 

 much attention as possible and attending with as much regularity as I 

 could the Meetings of the Committee of Management of the Museum ; 

 and the ground on which Sir Arthur Gordon laid this trust on me was 

 the great interest which Sir William Gregory had taken in the 

 building. 



" I wish, ladies and gentlemen, that the advocacy and the emphasizing 

 of what the Bishop has said had been in better hands than mine ; 

 but having been told by the Honorary Secretary that the duty fell 

 on me as Vice-Patron, and to a certain extent as being a Member 

 of the Society, of conveying in a few words to his Lordship the 

 acknowledgments which I am sure we all fully and cordially accord, I 

 had no hesitation in accepting the duty, and I am sure, ladies and 

 gentlemen, that I am only expressing your wishes when I convey to 

 his Lordship our thanks for the interesting address which he has given 

 to us." 



Dr. Copleston in replying said :— ." Your Excellency, ladies, and 

 gentlemen, — I should not bring myself before you again even to thank 

 you for so kindly receiving what His Excellency has so kindly said, 

 were it not that I seize the opportunity of expressing the thanks, 

 especially of those to whom the management of the Society's interests 

 are entrusted, and indeed of all of us, to His Excellency for presiding 

 here. (Applause.) We are extremely glad to have him amongst us, 

 and knowing as we do of the difficulty with which those who hold 



