158 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society, [Feb. 



cidence which ought to convince the most sceptical of the demand for informa- 

 tion, bv no means scarce, but which, for the reasons I have stated, has been 

 kept back by some, scattered to the winds by others, or carefullv locked up in 

 Government offices ; and now in the year 1837, when any question in political 

 economy is agitated, there is not in all India a book of general reference. What 

 is the consequence ? A question that in England would be settled in a month, 

 requires in Tndia at least a year to collect data on which to frame a report. 



Now, the least advantage that may be expected from the labors of these 

 Committees, will be a ready reference to all matters relating: to political econo- 

 my, and a sure guide to future legislation. Instead of groping in the dark, and 

 seeking information from numerous and doubtful sources, it would be found 

 carefully collected and condensed from the best authorities at one and the same 

 point. 



So grand a design could not be compassed by any one individual, even were 

 his whole time and attention devoted to its accomplishment, and life ten times 

 its present span. But in the hands of a Committee there is no reason to appre- 

 hend failure, and I think, that as soon as the objects of the Committee are 

 sufficiently explained and made known, there are many who will willingly and 

 zealously contribute all they can to the general fund. 



Without taking up more of the .Society's time, (and I beg pardon for this 

 intrusion,) I may merely udd that I shall be glad to undertake a series of essays 

 on the principal productions of India. For example, I would begin with " Cot- 

 ^ora," which, as Mr. Holt Mackenzie justly observes, " had become almost a 

 necessary of life to a large proportion of our manufacturers ; and it was fear- 

 ful to think how much we depended for it on a single source of supply." 



Without meaning to question the accuracy of this argument, I thiuk I could, 

 without much difficulty, shew, that the English manufacturer is not so en- 

 tirely dependent on a single source, as it is generally supnosed ; for these 

 deductions were drawn from what India has produced — not from what India 

 can and may produce. 



2. 1 would endeavour to point out the obstacles that have existed to improving 

 an article now of such vast commercial importance ; aud how these obstacles 

 can be best removed. 



3. What the capabilities of this country are, supposing political events com- 

 pelled the British manufacturer to depend for supplies of cotton on India alone. 



4. The average prices of indian cotton in the English market for the last 

 twenty years, contrasted with those of American and other foreign grown cotton. 



5. That India is capable, under ordinary care and encouragement, of main- 

 taining a successful competition in the British market with any foreign country. 



6. The probable quantity of land in India formerly occupied by cotton, 

 which has been thrown out of cultivation, by the great influx of British Twist, 

 and the extent to which this cultivation may be brought back by introducing a 

 superior staple and improved mode of culture. 



These remarks would be founded on sound calculations deduced from tabular 

 statements, as well as actual experiment, and not on theoretical argumentation. 



Cotton, as I have said, would be the subject of my first essay — which would 

 be followed by a similar statistical view of our Indian Sil/c trade. Sugar would 

 thirdly engage my attention, and so on until the list of staples had been com- 

 pleted. 



From these I should descend into the hitherto less explored, though not less 

 interesting regions of agriculture, and try to discover whether there are not 

 many productions now left entirely to nature, that could not, with a little atten- 

 tion, be rescued from unmerited oblivion, and brought to form a valuable addi- 

 tion to the Materia Medica, and to the present list of exportable products. 



I have the honor to be, &c, 



Calcutta, 23rd February, 1837. John Bell. 



Physical. 



A very large stuffed specimen of the Ornithorynchus paradoxus was 

 presented by Mr. E. V. Irwin. 



A letter from Lieutenant N. Vicary, dated Sydney, 28th October, 

 1836, announced bis having- dispatched, under care of Captain Davidson, 

 of the Lady Kennawny, a box containing a series of the fossil shells of 

 New South Wales. 



