xvi. Appendix Proceedings of 



at present in use, consist of a Barometer, three Hygrometers, 

 a Standard Thermometer, a Rain Guage, and a Scale Ruler; 

 but others have been bought previous to these, and nothing 

 is now known of them. It is impossible to conduct a wide and 

 important Meteorological Survey with such assistance only 

 as these instruments could render; and your Committee "feel 

 assured that the scientific department of the Society's opera- 

 tions is entitled to its share of support. Your Committee are 

 of opinion, that for a very slight outlay a series of instruments 

 could be purchased, which would illustrate and assist scientific 

 investigation of a very extended character. They judge, how- 

 ever, that as far as Meteorology is concerned, not much 

 expense should be incurred in the purchase of Thermometers. 

 Some of those instruments can be bought in Colombo, of a 

 good construction and at a low price, which can be rigidly 

 compared with the excellent standard instrument of the So- 

 ciety, their error, if any, detected, and themselves adapted at 

 once to the purposes of Hygrometers. It is not saying too 

 much, that the outlay of £3 would enable the Society to 

 transport at once to Trincomalie, Newera Ellia, and Galle, 

 instruments which would yield the most useful and important 

 results. Of course, this is not meant to apply to the self- 

 registering thermometers, some of which it would be advisable 

 at once to procure from the best maker in London. Your 

 Committee deem, however, that the greatest benefits would 

 accrue from the possession of such instruments as the Electro- 

 meter, Actinometer, the Polariscope, and those others which 

 indicate the phenomena of light, radiation, and atmospheric 

 electricity. A Photographic apparatus, by which temples, 

 statues, and inscriptions and tracery, however elaborate and 

 minute, could be faithfully delineated, is however the instru- 

 ment of which your Committee would wish to see the Society 

 possessed as soon as possible. The records which it would 

 give of the architecture and antiquities of Ceylon, would as- 

 sist research, and would probably discover many coincidences 



