APPENDIX  XII.
 

 THE LATE SIR WILLIAM  GREGORY AND THE COLOMBO

                          ,  MUSEUM.



                   Reference to Engraving.



The inscription on the statue to  Governor Sir William Gregory tells  its

own story to some extent,  but it may be added  that a sum of about

R25,000 was subscribed by all classes—-chiefly by Ceylonese, and especially

the Sinhalese section—for the erection of the statue.  It was executed by

F.  Boehm. A.R.A.  It is erected  in the Cinnamon Gardens, in front of

the Colombo Museum—the most interesting and most  generally useful,

as  well as handsomest, public building  erected in  Ceylon during British

times.  The  conception,  arrangements, and carrying out of this museum

were entirely due to Governor Gregory.  He had for  his architect Mr.

J.  G. Smither, F.R.I.B.A.  The  structure, laying out of grounds, and

surrounding  wall  cost  about  £12,000.   The  museum  is occupied

entirely with Ceylon exhibits, and presents a very adequate display in

all departments, and especially interesting archseological exhibits referring

to  the early  days  of the  Kandyan kingdom.   An  .Oriental  library

occupies  one part of the building, and the Ceylon branch  of the Royal

Asiatic Society holds its  meetings in an adjoining room.  The natives of

all classes and races  visit  the museum in  great numbers, and it is a

centre  of attraction to visitors—passengers landing at Colombo—from

all quarters.



                     The Colombo  Museum.



                   {By a  Ceylon Writer in 1882.)



   " If  want of  interest in  local exhibitions  was not  so  commonly

observable amongst the  residents of almost all the principal towns and

cities of the civilised world, it might, perhaps, be considered remarkable

that so few of the European residents of Colombo take any interest in

the beautiful museum which stands so prominently amongst the buildings

in the  Cinnamon  Gardens.  It is merely another phase of the principle

involved in the assertion that a prophet is not without honour,  save iu

his own country and his  own father's house.   Our museum is  by far

the most beautiful building in Colombo : it is  pleasantly situated and

surrounded by prettily cultivated grounds ; it is, moreover, replete with

objects of local interest, and entrance  is free to all.   And yet, with all

these attractions, there is scarcely one in  a  hundred of us who  has done

himself the pleasure of  paying a visit  to the building, or, if he has, it

was, in  all probability, several years ago, or  when  the collection of

specimens was of such a meagre and rudimentary nature as to scarcely

merit  the name of collection at all.   In those days,  possibly, visitors
 

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