No. 48.— 1897.] 



PROCEEDINGS. 



125 



As your official chief I was rather shocked for a moment at your 

 intimate acquaintance with the feelings of these ladies, and I began to 

 fear a Breach of Promise case until I remembered how very much older 

 they were than yourself {renewed laughter). In conveying to you the 

 thanks of this Society, the thought occurs to me — How often have you 

 received the thanks of this Chair; how of ten have you read Papers and 

 done other useful work, and earned and received their thanks ?] 

 However, I have no doubt Mr. Bell has been well rewarded. I can 

 imagine, enthusiastic as he is, how pleased he has been to break away 

 from the trammels of " red-tape " which usually surround him, and 

 escape from cold official control ; when he finds himself in this hall of 

 culture, in the presence of a sympathetic audience, how he must revel in 

 delight. The icy douche, with which Government may occasionally 

 quench his archaeological ardour, is forgotten : he can dream, he can 

 build magnificent castles — or shall we say dagabas — regardless of 

 expense, knowing that he has the entire sympathy of his audience 

 {laughter and applause). 



Well, I will not pursue the strain ; but only repeat how much we 

 have enjoyed the Paper which has been read, and how much we 

 admire the effective way in which Mr. Bell has breathed life into 

 what, in less skilful hands, would have been very dry bones {applause). 

 I think this Society is to be congratulated upon having so valuable 

 a Member, and the Government is to be congratulated on finding 

 amongst the ranks of Civil Servants one so able, so capable, and, above 

 all, so enthusiastic an archaeologist {applause). 



The vote was carried with hearty acclamation. 



8. The Bishop of Colombo then rose and said It falls to me at 

 this late hour very briefly to give expression to that which is in the 

 minds of us all, the desire to thank Your Excellency for your presence 

 here to-night {hear, hear). We have not only this duty, but also that 

 of welcoming you on the first occasion in the capacity of Patron of this 

 Society {hear, hear). We value the patronage of our Governor, and 

 feel that your presence is not only the means of attracting a larger 

 company than usual to our Meetings, but is evidence of the interest 

 that clings round this special gathering. 



I am very glad to think Your Excellency's presence to-day is in 

 great measure, not merely to show your sympathy and to discharge 

 your duty of patronage to this Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 

 but also to show your approbation of him whom I shall not hesitate 

 to call " our Mr. Bell" {hear, hear). He belongs to you, Sir, as a 

 servant of the Government, but he belongs by extraction to the Royal 

 Asiatic Society {hear, hear, and laughter). And we hope we may be 

 able to make further requisitions on him for services like those which 

 he has performed this evening {hear, hear) — services which demand 

 such extraordinary combinations in himself and Mr. Perera. It has 



