ii. Appendix '.—Proceedings of 



Your Committee have also felt the absence at distant out- 

 stations, of some of those Members of the Society, who by 

 their individual exertions materially assisted the Society in its 

 progress. 



Since the last Anniversary Meeting four new Members 

 have joined the Society, and three others have to be proposed 

 at the present Meeting. 



Several interesting papers have been contributed to the 

 Society's Transactions, and some of these, it is a pleasure to 

 observe, are the productions of Native gentlemen, and treat 

 of the Antiquities of the country, or its Ancient Literature. 

 Two gentlemen, well qualified for the undertaking, have con- 

 tributed papers on the Natural History and Geological Struc- 

 ture of Ceylon, and others, with great success, have devoted 

 themselves to Statistical information, bearing upon the social 

 condition of particular Districts of the Island. 



The Committee deem it one of the most important features 

 of the Society, thus to bring out native talent. Your Com- 

 mittee are persuaded, not only from recent experience, but 

 from observing the literary contributions made to the Society 

 from its commencement, that much talent among the Native 

 community requires, in order to bring it out, only opportunity 

 and encouragement, such as the Society is eminently calcu- 

 lated to afford, and they would earnestly solicit the united 

 exertions of the Members for its maintenance and success. 



During the past year the Secretary has been in correspon- 

 dence with Government, with a view to obtain the use of its 

 room without interruption from the Loan Board ; an incon- 

 venience which has long interfered with the Society's useful- 

 ness, the intercourse of its Members with each other, and the 

 full advantage of its Library and Museum ; but your Com- 

 mittee have still to express their regret in not accomplishing 

 the object they have long had so much at heart. 



Conformably with a motion at a General Meeting, His 

 Excellency the Governor was requested to become Patron 



