CHAP. I.] GENERAL TIEW. GEOGKAPHT. 3 



order of the Madras Government, dated 28th August, 

 1861, the present compiler was directed to undertake 

 the work required by the Government of India. Every 

 facility indicated was fully afforded, and the task was 

 commenced without delay. Fortunately, the great 

 mass of official records relating to the experiments un- 

 dertaken by Government had been already published in 

 the form of Eeports and Blue-books ; and the principal 

 manuscript records to be consulted were those which 

 had accumulated after the departure of Dr. Wight from 

 India in 1853. The published records are as follows :— 



Reports connected with the Proceedings of the East ' 

 India Company in regard to the Culture and Ma- 

 nufacture of Cotton work prior to 1836. Octavo. 

 Pages 431. 



Parliamentary Return of Papers, connected with the 

 Measures taken by. the Company to promote the 

 cultivation of Cotton in India, 1836 — 1847. Eolio. 

 Pages 535. 



Ditto, with reference to the Madras Presidency only, 

 1847—1857. Folio. Pages 419. 



Eeport from the Select Parliamentary Committee on 

 the growth of Cotton in India ; together with the 

 Minutes of Evidence, &c., 1848. Polio. Pages 615. 



Accordingly, it has been found necessary, in the first 

 instance, to make an abstract of all the papers contain- 

 ed in the first three of the foregoing publications, for the 

 purposes of digestion and classification; and then, by 

 means of this abstract, together with a constant and 

 careful verification of the original documents, to en- 

 deavour to draw up a narrative of all the experiments 

 which have been made by the East India Company, 

 with reference to this all-important subject, illustrated 

 by such other information as could be obtained from 

 the different sources, manuscript and otherwise, which 

 were indicated by the Supreme Government ; and ex- 

 hibiting, in as clear and succinct a form as could be 

 attained, all the results that were likely to be of interest 

 or utility to persons engaged in similar inquiries or 

 speculations. 



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