PREFACE. 



VU 



and proceed to the interior prepared to study and labour with 

 advantage to themselves and benefit to science. Better ac- 

 commodation, also, for the Society and its property might be 

 secured, than two confined corners in a building the greater 

 part of whose accommodations are appropriated to multifari- 

 ous uses and occupations ! 



Now, some, perhaps all, of these advantages may be 

 secured by the accession of fifty fresh resident members, and 

 two or three hundred non-residents. 



Are these to prove Utopian dreams ? 



Let those interested in Science and Literature, and in 

 the spread of knowledge, decide. 



To the Patron of the Society, Sir Frederick Adam, the 

 enlightened promoter of every useful and beneficent design, 

 the Journal owes in a great measure its existence, from the 

 countenance and encouragement he' afforded when its esta- 

 blishment was first proposed by the late lamented Colonel 

 Coombs ; and his fostering hand has been since continually 

 extended to it in a variety of ways, and in none more use- 

 fully than in proffering access to valuable documents in the 

 public archives on the statistics of the Peninsula of India, 

 from which, when time permits, it is expected that much 

 highly interesting and important matter may be extracted. 



As these observations will issue from the Press, when 

 Sir Frederick Adam, will have quitted, or be in the act of 

 leaving, the shores of Madras, this parting tribute of grateful 

 respect will occur opportunely. 



R. C. 



Madras; 21th January 1837. 



