424 



Mtmoir on the Indian Surveys. 



[APRIt 



VIII.-SELECTIONS. 



I, —Memoir on the Origin^ Progress, and Present Slate of the Surveys 

 in India. — By Captain Thomas Best Jervis, Bombay Engineers, 

 F. G. s. and A. s. 



A summary and popular account of the origin, progress, and actual 

 state of the surveys carrying on under the auspices of the Honourable 

 East India Company, has doubtless been considered a desideratum by 

 many who are interested in geographical discovery, more especially 

 as the results have recently been brought before the public, and have 

 naturally suggested some inquiries as to the methods pursued, and the 

 degree of confidence to be placed in what has been thus submitted to 

 its criticism. It would indeed be a dereliction on the part of any who 

 should enter upon the task of explaining these matters, were he to 

 omit to notice at the outset how singularly disinterested and munificent 

 a part this great and influential public body has taken in undertakings 

 which, whatever may be urged of other schemes, originated in no sor- 

 did or selfish policy, and may undeniably be said to have more of a na- 

 tional character than any other to which their attention has been call- 

 ed : nay, further, which apart from the immediate exigencies of the 

 state, have been pre-eminently calculated to speak to the steady, 

 straight-forward, enlightened principles that mark both those that di- 

 rect, and those that administer the executive government of our Eastern 

 empire. 



The earliest records of the India House bear abundant testimony to 

 the fact of the constant and lively interest taken by the Directors in the 

 improvement of the charts and navigation of the Indian seas. Re. 

 peated instructions were sent out year after year to the local govern- 

 ments, to cause individual talent to be put in requisition by every 

 species of encouragement :— log-books, astronomical and written obser- 

 vations to be procured and sent home, and where the originals could 

 not be obtained, tracings were directed to be accurately made, and for- 

 warded for compilation and publication. The patronage so wisely ex- 

 tended by our most gracious and excellent sovereign, George the Third, 

 to the improvement of geographical knowledge, was thus in spirit and 

 in letter transferred to his people in every quarter of the globe, and the 

 steady support which other navigators and travellers experienced at 

 the hands of royalty, were equally evinced by those who watched over 

 the destinies of India. 



