General Meeting, May 15th, 1852. 



xxyii. 



C. 



Meport of the Committee on Papers, Colombo, 10th May, 1852, 



Present Dr. Lamprey, 15th Regt.; Captain Neill, R.A, 

 The Committee upon papers having met, pursuant to the Resolution 

 No. 1 of the Committee Meeting, bearing date 19th April, 1852, proceed 

 to the examination of the various papers contributed by several gentle- 

 men, and long in the possession of the Society. The Committee com- 

 mence their observations by remarking the absence of the paper from 

 Mr. Herft, in which he gives a most able summary of the statistics of an 

 important district. It was compiled some time ago, and displayed great 

 ability, care, and labour. The Committee would recommend, that Mr. 

 Herft be consulted as to whether, in the interval which has elapsed since 

 the transmission of his paper to the Society, he may have any old facts 

 to amend, or new facts to record, and whether he will supply the Society 

 again with a copy of his excellent paper. 



The Committee directed their attention to the several manuscripts in 

 succession. The first, entitled " Remarks on Singhalese Medicine," is a 

 paper in which considerable research is evinced, and upon which some 

 labour has been expended. The Committee think, however, that it could 

 be advantageously condensed; and besides, they deem that the subject of 

 which it treats is one which ought to be submitted to professional judg- 

 ment, before it could be inserted in the Journal. The next paper is an 

 outline of the Tamil system of Natural History, by Simon Casie Chitty, 

 Esq., and is a paper of considerable value. The next is the Statistical 

 Account of the Districts of Chilaw and Putlam, North Western Province, 

 by Mr. Brodie. This is an excellent paper, though the Committee would 

 advise, that before it were published, Mr. Brodie should be consulted 

 as to any amendments or additions he might be now inclined to make. 

 The last MS. which the Committee have examined, is from the Rev. Mr. 

 Gogerly, entitled " The Laws of the Budhist Priesthood." This is, like 

 every other of the productions of that gentleman, full of interest and 

 instruction. 



The above enumerated manuscripts are those only which the Society 

 has at present in its possession ; but the Committee would observe, that 

 circumstances only have delayed the appearance of others of great 

 interest. Dr. Lamprey is at present employed on a very interesting sub- 

 ject; Captain Neill is preparing a large paper; and the Committee are 

 informed by the Secretary of the Society, that he has received from 

 several correspondents, the declaration, that they are ready to contribute 



