Vill PREFACE. 
the Eprror perused the following letter, announcing that the privilege 
of free postage should cease from June next, especially after having 
been honored, on an explanation of the nature of the work, with an 
extension of the same privilege to the Madras presidency, in addition 
to that formerly bestowed by the Governors of Bombay and Ceylon. 
To JAMES PRINSEP, Esa. 
Genl. Dept. Editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society, 
Sir, 
I am directed to inform you, that the Governor General in Council has resolved, 
that after six months the exemption from postage, which is now enjoyed by the 
Journal of the Asiatic Society, shall be discontinued. 
I have the honor to be, 
Sir, 
Your most obedient servant, 
Council Chamber, G. A. BUSHBY, 
2nd Dec. 1833. Offg. Sec. to Govt. 
It may reasonably be feared that many subscribers at distant stations 
may be unable to continue their support to the work, when its cost 
shall be enhanced by postage; but (should it be impossible, on a pro- 
per and respectful representation of the circumstances, to avert the 
imposition of postage) every means will be taken of lessening the burthen 
by sending the monthly numbers by the bangy instead of the regular dak. 
On the contents of a volume which has already been perused by 
nearly all to whom it circulates, it would have been obviously need- 
less to make any remark, were it not desirable to prove that the favors 
hitherto conferred upon the work by the Government of the country 
had not been altogether misapplied. 
Independently of the volume of Dinajpur Statistics, which forms a 
model for the use of public officers engaged in collecting similar in- 
formation, the GLrantnes and the Journat have been the means of 
bringing to notice many of the mineral resources of our vast Indian 
Empire, and of leading to fresh discoveries by the announcement of what 
had already been found : coal may be adduced as an example, —of which 
twenty or more different localities have been brought to our knowledge 
throughits pages, where only two were before known. Of thenative mine- 
ral productions, iron, copper, gold, &c. :—Of the native arts and manu- 
factures, salt, nitre, turpentine, dyes, mills, &c. numerous original ac- 
