438 Proceedings of Societies. [Oct. 



that Essay was a Buddhist priest, of distinguished reputation for learning; and 

 Mr. Arm oi"R is unquestionably the best European Singhalese scholar in the 

 Island. The comprehensive form in which the system of Buddhism as recognized 

 in Ceylon is presented in that Essay, and the definitions there afforded of parti- 

 cular terms, will both save details of explanations in my analysis, and serve to 

 render it more intelligible. 



I have the honor to be, Sir, &c. 

 To the Secretary Bengal Asiatic Society. George Turnour. 



Mr. H. T. Prinsep in reference to the above stated, that the Governor General 

 had empowered him also to solicit the opinion of the Society on the character of 

 the Ceylonese Historical Annals, to guide his Lordship in Council as to the extent 

 of patronage to be accorded to the work by the Government of India. 



In compliance with the wishes of the Governor General and of the author him- 

 self, Mr. Tlrnolr's Introductory Essay, Historical Epitome and translation, 

 were referred to the Committee of Papers to examine and report their opinion of 

 the authenticity and value of the Pali annals, which the author has undertaken to 

 introduce to the knowledge of the learned world, as well as upon the fidelity of 

 the translation, confronted, as it is, line by line with the Pali original in Roman 

 character. 



The Secretary read th<> following report from the Committee of Papers on the- 

 proposition of Cavei.lv Yenkata Lachmi'a, referred by Government to the 

 Society at the last meeting. 



Proposition of Cavelly Venxata Lachmi'a, Pandit, to the Madras Govern- 

 ment. 



To His Excellency Lieutenant-General the Right Honorable Sir Frederick 

 Adam, K. C. B. 5 Governor in Council, &c. &c. &c. 



Fort St. George. 



Right Honorable Sir, 

 Para. have the honor to submit respectfully, the accompanying copy of & 



letter addressed to your Excellency from the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Bri- 

 tain and Ireland, for the consideration of your Excellency in Council, of which 

 Society I am a corresponding Member, whereby it appears that that Society is 

 very desirous to receive every literary information in this part of the world, with a 

 view to complete the late Colonel Mackenzie's collection. I most submissively 

 solicit, that your Excellency in Council will be pleased to sanction every support 

 from the Government regarding those researches, particularly to authorize me to 

 open a general correspondence with the gentlemen of literary endowments, under 

 this Presidency, in the revenue, judicial and military branches of the service, to 

 enable me to procure e ery information on the subject of the History, Antiquities, 

 &c. of India. 



2. — I beg leave to submit the enclosed copy of an abstract, comprising a brief 

 idea of the nature of the work in which I am engaged. I leave it to your Excel- 

 lency in Council to judge what may be estimated to be the expense and establish- 

 ment required to bring it to a completion. It would, however, be presumptive in 

 me, at the present stage of affairs, to suggest any specific amount. But the work 

 consists of twenty-one different ancient alphabets and fourteen languages, ancient 

 and modern, of various parts of the Peninsula ; consequently, I would observe, 

 that I Will have gcea?ic>r 4 to employ in. ev ery zillah, cn the smallest scale, two in- 



