NOTICES OF BOOKS. 29 



one 



new career to industry and commerce, on which this generous monarch 

 bestowed an unbounded patronage during a reign of more than a quar- 

 ter of a century. It was more than time to study carefully the nature 

 and productions of these rich countries. It was, in short, necessary to 

 follow the example of other maritime powers who had learned the 

 way to make their colonies the objects of studies eminently useful. 

 How many results might not be promised, for the development of 

 agriculture, manufacture, commerce, navigation ; and in how great a 

 degree these results were to contribute to the prosperity, not only of 

 the mother-country, but also of the Indies themselves \ In a word, 

 should not this solid basis given to Dutch activity contribute to illus- 

 trate that happy and memorable period, at which the Netherlands re- 

 covered their rank among nations ? The choice of those who were to 

 pave the way in India for this grand enterprise was important, for on 

 the first steps depended in a great degree the successful progress of the 

 measures which were to be adopted. It required a man of intelligence, 

 well-informed, but familiar with the practical application of many 

 sciences ; a man zealous and enterprising, capable of surmounting the 

 difficulties which present themselves in every way somewhat new, 

 animated by that devotedness which causes him to seek, on every occa- 

 sion, and at the cost of any efforts, to extend the field of human know- 

 ledge, and to increase the treasure which each generation bequeaths to 



its successor. 



" The choice of the Sovereign Prince was fixed on Dr. C. G. C. Eein- 

 wardt, then Professor and Director of the Museum of Natural History 

 at Amsterdam. His Royal Highness commanded this naturalist to 

 accompany their Excellencies the Commissaries-General Messrs. Van 

 der Capellen, Elout, and Buyksen, who were to proceed to the Indies 

 to take possession of the territory, and to regulate the government and 

 the form of the administration. Dr. Reinwardt was to assist them with 

 his advice on all matters respecting public instruction, the culture of 

 the soil, medical service, the introduction of vaccination, the interests 

 of the branches of natural sciences and their technical application, the 

 productions of the three kingdoms of nature, etc. etc. ;— in short, by 

 journeys undertaken with these points in view, he was to commence the 

 necessary investigations in such a manner as should ensure an easy con- 

 tinuation for the future. A similar mission is rare, not to say unique, 

 in the annals of science. Dr. Reinwardt had accorded to him, with a 



