1853.] Literary Intelligence. 491 



opportunity of respectfully urging on the consideration of the Most 

 Noble the Governor of Bengal the great importance of a careful and 

 systematic analysis of the several Iron ores of the district referred 

 to, and of other parts of India. I have already,* in connexion with 

 coal enquiries, urged the importance of such a series of experimental 

 investigations, and I am satisfied that valuable results would spring 

 from a similar enquiry into the composition, &c. of the various ores 

 of India ; of the methods now adopted in their reduction, and of the 

 possible improvement in these. There have been no trustworthy 

 analyses of these ores as yet made, and it is possible that some 

 ingredient may be found in one or other of the many beds, which 

 may either render the ore of that bed comparatively useless, or may 

 materially increase its apparent value. Such a series of analyses 

 systematically conducted by a competent chemist, and in connexion 

 with the actual examination of the mode of occurrence of the several 

 ores in the field, would prove of great value ; but could only be un- 

 dertaken with advantage by some one, who could devote his time 

 zealously, and continuously to the task, so that the result might be 

 strictly comparable. 



(Signed) Thomas Oldham, 

 JDarjeeling, August 1st, 1853. Superintendent of Geological Survey. 



Literary Intelligence. 



Extract from a letter of Colonel Eawlinson, C. B. Honorary 

 Member of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, to Dr. A. Sprenger. 



Baghdad, April 15th, 1853. 



" I have indeed such an enormous mass of materials in hand that 

 a couple of years' leisure, is almost indispensable to put them in 

 order, and carry them through the press. The historical portion 

 consists of an almost continuous series of annals extending from 

 the time of Solomon to the destruction of Nineveh. But besides 

 this, I have the library of the Assyrian kings to classify and publish. 



* From Superintendent of Geological Survey, To Under-Secretary Government 

 of Bengal. No. 181, June 27, 1853. 



