PROCEEDINGS OF MEETINGS. GENERAL MEETING. December 17th, 1859. Present: J. STERLING, Esq., Acting Chief Justice, in the Chair. The Secretary read a list of the books and Periodicals received since On the system of Phonetic Alphabets, by J. E. Thompson, M.c.S., from the Author. :-- The following Contributions to the Museum were announced :- A Jungle Cat, from Lieut. Robertson. A Cobra Capella, from Mr. J. Thompson. The following gentlemen were then ballotted for, and declared elected Members of the Society :-- BOYD Moss, Esq., F.R.C.S. J. F. DICKSON, Esq., C.C.S. Proposed by Mr. J. Capper. Seconded by Mr. Jas. Alwis. F. B. MAINGUY, Esq., RE. R. A. ROBINSON, Esq., .. C. HALL, Esq. Proposed by the Rev. B. Boake. Seconded by Mr. J. Maitland. Proposed by Mr. J. Capper. Seconded by Mr. C. A. Lorenz. Proposed by Mr. J. Maitland. Seconded by the Rev. J. Thurstan. It was then moved and resolved, that Mr. C. P. Layard be elected President of this Society for the current year, in the room of the late Sir William Carpenter Rowe, and further, that the Rev. B. Boake, Mr. Lorenz, and Mr. Capper, do form a Sub-Committee to draw up a suitable expression of the Society's sense of the loss sustained by the death of its late President. Mr. Maitland explained, that the sudden departure of Dr. Kelaart from Colombo, on special duty, prevented the reading of his paper on that day it would, however, be forthcoming at the General Meeting. He also exhibited a full-sized model of the iron and coir fencing proposed by Dr. Kelaart to be employed for the protection of the young Pearl Oysters on the freshly-formed beds. Mr. Boyd Moss then read a paper on “Ceylon as a residence for Europeans, considered in reference to health.” GENERAL MEETING, Present: The Honorable the CHIEF JUSTICE, as Vice-Patron, presided. It is with great pride and Sir E. Creasy, on taking the Chair, said :— pleasure that I have accepted the offer so kindly conveyed to me, through my friend Mr. Lorenz, of this honorable position in your Society. Although my own literary pursuits have been chiefly directed to the histories and languages of Europe, I have always taken a deep interest in Oriental ethnology, and in the historical evidences which the literature and the architectural monuments of the East supply, as to the early habitations and movements of the human race. It has also been my good fortune to have among my near connexions and friends, men, to whom the study of Asiatic antiquities and languages has been for years a favorite occupation ; and among whom I have frequently heard the most important questions connected with Oriental lore discussed with ample learning and keen sagacity, and with all the freedom and vivacity of unrestrained familiar conversation. As soon as I was aware that Ceylon was to be my future residence, I determined to endeavour to join this Society; though I fear that the nature of my principal former studies, and the requirements on my time which my duties will create, are likely to make me a very But I shall, at least, watch your inefficient member of your Association. labours with cordial good-will and deep attention. Ceylon and Siņhalese literature are so pre-eminently rich in ancient monuments and ancient records, that it is here we may hope to see good work done towards deciding many questions now earnestly discussed by the scholars and philologists of England and Germany. Especially there is the great dispute which Gibbon indicated, and which is now warmly revived, whether the East really gave arts, letters, and civilization to the West, or whether all that is of any value in Oriental literature and art, was not derived from a north-western source. I intimate no opinion of my own on this or on the other great questions, as to the primary seats and early currents of population. But I know that they are questions on which many master minds are now intent, and I know that I see here an Association peculiarly qualified to throw light on them. Your researches in Statistics, in Geology, and in the Fauna and Flora of this remarkable Island, command also the deepest interest. They have indeed an immediate practical value, which ensures for them the regard of many who would pay comparatively little heed to merely literary topics. I am sure that the time which you devote to the furtherance of the objects of this Society is employed with utility to others as well as with intellectual benefit to yourselves. I once more cordially thank you for the gratifying manner in which you have enrolled me in your ranks, and pledge myself that I will do all in my power to deserve it." The following gentlemen were then ballotted for, and declared elected Members, viz :— Proposed by Mr. J. Capper. Seconded by Mr. Jas. Alwis. The Secretary placed on the table the following list of Donations to the Museum: Twenty-three land shells from Mr. C. P. Layard; four New Zealand Pheasants, a specimen of Kandyan paper 40 years old, and three Ancient Sinhalese Coins from the Honorable Major Skinner, A set of Pearl Oyster Shells, of various ages, by the Secretary. The following Books and Periodicals were reported as received since last meeting A Report on Public Instruction in Bengal, from the Honorable the Colonial Secretary. Meteorological Observations during the seven years ending 31st Decem ber, 1859, from R. Bullen, Esq., R.E. The Asiatic Journal Report on the Natural History of the Pearl Oyster, Romanic Alphabets An Enumeration of Ceylon Plants, by G. H. K. The Calcutta Review Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Transactions of the Bombay Geographical So ciety Journal of the Madras Literary Society Journal of the Geological Society of London Journal of the Statistical Society of London The Engineer's Journal Major Skinner said, that he had received a communication from Sir W. Denison, the Governor of New South Wales, who was desirous that an exchange of specimens should take place between the Public Museum of Sydney and the Ceylon Asiatic Society, and he therefore begged to move the following resolution: "That the Curator and Secretary be requested to communicate with the authorities of the Museum at Sydney, with the view to establishing a system of Exchanges." The resolution having been seconded, was carried. Mr. J. D' Alwis called the attention of the Meeting to the fact that there were several Chapters of the Mahawanso, translated by the late Mr. George Turnour, that had never been published, in the hands of that gentleman's Executors. He wished to propose the following resolution, which was seconded and adopted : : "That the Secretary be requested to communicate with the Executors of the late Mr. Turnour, with a view to obtaining their permission to print such translated Chapters of the Mahawanso as remain in manuscript in their hands." |