VIII 
PREFACE. 
success to this than to any of the former attempts. The establishment of 
some kind of journal that should appear at less distant intervals than the 
volume of their Transactions, to support and be supported by this move- 
ment in favor of science, was so obvious an idea, that it occurred to many 
at the time. The Editor, who had many years before projected such a 
work, finding opinion generally favorable to the project, at once set it on 
foot. That the experiment has owed great part of its success to the suita- 
bleness of the juncture at which it was tried, we are quite ready to ac- 
knowledge ; whether it has repaid this debt in any way, by fostering the 
spirit of scientific research, must be left to others to determine. But 
even if this point were satisfactorily established, we should still have to 
acknowledge our obligations to some of the members of the Committee 
individually, not only in placing at our disposal materials for publica- 
tion, but in making generally known and recommending the work- 
We wish we could permit ourselves to dilate on this subject, — so 
far at least as to express the grateful sense we entertain of the va- 
luable aid we have derived from each of these gentlemen; but we 
are sufficiently aware, that to particularise any further would take 
from the acceptableness of our acknowledgments. Many gentlemen 
too entirely unconnected with the Asiatic Society, have been kind 
enough to favor us with their contributions ; and for these also we beg 
to return our best thanks. We owe much, also, to our friends in the 
country, for their valuable and tiraous assistance. Indeed, it must not 
be concealed, that the majority of the papers are of provincial origin. 
Amongst our contributors from this quarter is one gentleman, whose 
productions have not been thought unworthy the pages of the first 
scientific work in England, if not in Europe. The warm interest he 
has taken in the success of our small work, and the very material aid 
which either by himself or friends lie has afforded us, command our 
best thanks. 'I his gentleman has, we think our readers will agree with 
us been ably supported by his moofiissil brethren. Physics, Geology, 
and the Natural History of the Invertebrata appear as departments in 
science to be ably represented by them ; and without intending any tiling 
offensive to our town contributors, we might remark, that the strength 
of the house is in the country gentlemen. In conclusion, we must 
not forget to say how much we are indebted to tlie dailv and weekly 
press °f Caicutta. The liberal and judicious notice which the con- 
ductors of that press have taken of the work, has no doubt introduced 
of it V lC< T 1, ‘ tan< ? ° f many Wh ° WOUld 0therwise never have heard 
our best acWklT t 7 vve more beg to offer 
voyage, our course m^yTe as smooth 77 SUCCe ® din S P art of our 
this our first essay. ’ d ° Ur Vessel as buoyant as in 
