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attracted the notice of scholars to a literature which, being unwritten, is all the more likely to perish. It is noticeable in this respect that the fourth tale alluded to by Sir W. Maxwell, but never published by him, has been placed on record by Mr. Clifford, and published by the Society. It is however by his "Manual" that he is likely to have exercised bis widest influence, in that he introduces every learner of Malay to a scholarly appreciation of Malay style and language, when all the learner's surroundings tend to degrade that language in his eyes. In his inaugural address on the foundation of the Straits Asiatic Society, the President, speaking of Logan's Journal, remarked that the weak point in that brave attempt was that the Editor was alone responsible for the management of his Journal, and that he was forced to give up, for want of sufficient co-operation, a work which was beyond the power of a single man to sustain. Is this to be true of the work of the Straits Asiatic Society? The President expressed a hope that the work of a Society might possess more permanence than that of an individual. "Individuals," said he, "are removed, but others remain." Nevertheless bearing in mind the limited range of interest in the Society's work, and the difficulty of securing contributors, any one who has been familiar with the Society's history from the first must feel how much depends on one man, and how much must have fallen on Sir William Maxwell in the past. The work done has been in a great measure his own work; and although there is fortunately no need to anticipate any abandonment of the aims which he did so much to forward, it is impossible either to minimize the extent of the Society's loss, or to believe that without increased effort on the part of members it will be possible to maintain in future numbers of the Journal the standard which the late Sir William Maxwell set.

C. W. S. K.