1826.] surveying the Indian Archipelago. 185 



the candid acknowledgements of the writers themselves, as well 

 as from the avowed purposes and pretensions of their works. 



It remains then for a wise and generous government to follow 

 up by its influence and its power the advantages already gained 

 for science and natural knowledge, by extending the limits of 

 survey to those interesting portions of the earth. The present 

 is a singularly propitious season. The blessings of peace and 

 plenty have been for some time felt and enjoyed. Government 

 has leisure, and it has manifested the disposition to cultivate 

 commercial relation on the broad and truly beneficial basis of 

 reciprocity. Moreover, independently of the considerations due 

 to science and to the interests of mankind, there are not wanting 

 others that touch this country more nearly than some are perhaps 

 aware of. 



The Charter of the India Company must in a few years expire, 

 and the management of that unwieldy machine * lapse into the 

 hands of Government. The prohibitive system will then, in all 

 probability, give way to one more consonant to the free spirit of 

 commerce and sound policy. Should this happen, it would seem 

 greatly desirable that the trade which would then be opened to 

 British capital and enterprize, should commence under circum- 

 stances the most favourable, and that our merchantmen should 

 not have to navigate unknown seas, but should be provided with 

 maps, and charts, and soundings, from the (now) only authentic 

 source, our owit Admiralty, that they may be as little as possible 

 dependent on the clemency or caprice of semi-barbarians. 



But if, contrary to every reasonable expectation, the treasures 

 of commerce must still be withheld from our grasp by the renewed 

 ascendancy of the Company, let not the treasures of knowledge 

 be hid from us. This at least is within the controul of Govern- 

 ment, nor can the ascertaining the actual condition of the Archi- 

 pelagan Islands be deemed any infringement of the Company's 

 rights. 



An expedition with this object in view would not partake so 

 much oi discovery as of survey. The islands to be visited are all 

 known to exist ; no time need be lost in endeavours to find out 

 new lands, but every hour would afford scope for industry and 

 skill in identifying and tracing the old; in inquiring into the 

 customs, languages, character, and physical peculiarities of the 

 inhabitants, the climate, soil, productions, capabilities, &,c. of the 

 islands ; the most eligible points of colonization or commercial 

 establishment, and all the other multifarious objects which the 

 wisdom of Government would not fail to embrace. From a 



' Tliose who may be inclined to think that I have spoken with but little ceremony of 

 the East India Company, I would refer to tlie works of Staborinus, Von Hogendorp, 

 Sir Stamford Raffles, and Mr. Crawford, in which facts and opinions are stated that 

 ■will doubtless increase in importance, as the period draws nigh when the afiaiis of thU 

 Corporatioamust be subjected to parliamentary revision. 



