1871.] Notices of Books. 369 



and Geological Surveys of India appeared in the number of this 

 Journal for October, 1870, and we shall not, therefore, further 

 refer to those subjects beyond stating that they are given at much 

 greater length and completeness in the volume now before us. 



The Archaeological Survey of India was for a long time carried 

 on by independent antiquarians, who published their labours 

 in the journals of different Indian societies, and they appear to 

 have acted without any system and but little communication 

 with one another. General Cunningham published his views on 

 archaeological investigation in 1848, but it was not until i860 

 that the Government of India instituted an archaeological survey, 

 with the object of preserving ancient monuments, rendering 

 them easy of access, obtaining correct copies of inscriptions 

 and pieces of sculpture, and thus facilitating the studies of 

 future antiquarians and historians. 



Meteorological observations appear to have been taken in India 

 so far back as the year 1785 ; and the earliest recorded tidal 

 observations were taken at the Kidderpore Dock-head, on the 

 Hooghly, by Mr. James Kyd, in 1806. Astronomical obser- 

 vations were commenced by the Government at Madras, in 1787, 

 but the results of similar observations made by native astronomers 

 so long ago as the 5th century, are preserved to the present day. 



The physical geography of India is to a great extent written 

 in the histories of travellers, and Mr. Markham has extracted 

 from the works of numerous authors some very interesting 

 information on this subject. Indeed, throughout the entire 

 volume dry facts are interspersed with interesting historical 

 information; and although its title would not probably commend 

 itself to any but scientific readers, there is nevertheless much in 

 it which will well repay others for the trouble of reading it, 

 whilst the style in which it is written is easy and fluent. 



Classical and Prehistoric Influences upon British History ; our 

 Philanthropy from of Old, our ever struggling Past, and 

 our Future. By Saxe Bannister, M.A., formerly Attorney- 

 General of New South Wales. Second Edition. London : 

 Longmans, 1871. 



Mr. Bannister has a theory to uphold, and a very good theory 

 it is, viz., that our peaceableness, our consideration for our 

 colonies, and our elevation of the native nations which impinge 

 upon our possessions rather than a desire to dispossess or 

 exterminate them, as is openly proclaimed by one class of 

 politicians as a decree of inevitable Fate, will tend to the pro- 

 longed existence of the nation as a ruling power, whereas the 

 opposite course will bring upon us a destruction as complete and 

 probably as speedy as that of the Roman Empire, produced as 

 it was by the wanton conquests and tyrannical oppression of 

 VOL. VIII. (O.S.) — VOL. I. (N.S.) 3 B 



