PREFACE. 
Work commenced. In order to afford sufficient time for the execution of the Plates, 
a small extension of the period in which the successive Numbers were engaged to be 
delivered, has been required : this, I trust, will not be a subject of disapprobation. 
I request the supporters of this Work to accept my cordial acknowledgements : 
I am happy to enumerate among these, many Gentlemen who have, since my arrival 
in England, honoured me with their friendship. 
To the distinguished patronage of the Honourable Court of Directors 
or the East India Company, the origin and progress of this Work is in a great 
measure indebted. At the conclusion, T entreat the permission of the Honourable 
Court to tender to them the tribute of my sincerest gratitude and obligation. 
The Work was originally dedicated to this Honourable Body, and with all its 
imperfections, it affords an additional evidence of the patronage afforded to science in 
their oriental possessions. 
As the Public has been prepared to expect a more general report of my 
Researches, in consequence of the favourable reference to them by the distinguished 
and enterprizing Author of the History of Java, in the Preface to that Work, 
I embrace this opportunity to state, that although some delay has occurred in the 
publication, the materials collected have not remained unexamined or undescribed, 
I am happy to announce, that my friends, William S. Macleay, Esq. and Robert 
Brown, Esq., have, with great disinterestedness, undertaken to give to the Public 
that part of my Entomological and Botanical Collections which may be most 
interesting, and a more particular notice of the Works proposed will appear without 
delay. 
