PREFACE. 
vii 
mi^ht strike us, or the criticisms and detections of error which might be 
forced on us in our references, a feeling might be created, which would 
tend, in some measure, to assist this effort; while to the student, the prac- 
tice might afford an opportunity of obtaining information which he 
would otherwise seek in vain. It was thought, in fact, that by showing 
to the scientific community of India, small as it is, their own strength, 
and by suggesting and supporting a combination of effort, the apathy 
and indolence which are the bane of our Indian clime, might be in some 
measure counteracted. 
It has been said, and by an authority which many will deem it pre- 
sumption in us to question, that “ A mere man of letters, retired from 
the world, and allotting his w'hole time to philosophical or literary pur- 
suits, is a character unknown among Europeans resident in India; where 
every individual is a man of business in the civil or military state, and 
constantly occupied, either in the affairs of government, in the adminis- 
tration of justice, in some department of revenue or commerce, or in 
one of the liberal professions. Very few hours, therefore, in the day or 
night can be reserved for any study that has no immediate connection 
with business, even by those who are most habituated to mental appli- 
cation.” 
We cannot agree to this as a true explanation of any supposed disre- 
gard the sciences may have suffered under in India. It proves indeed too 
much ; for it proves that nothing but our official duty can engage our 
attention. In England, men of science have equally their business to 
attend to, their profession to follow; yet they find leisure for cultivating 
science*. And why so ? Because their labours are appreciated. There 
is an, enlightened public opinion to reward their improvements and dis- 
coveries with praise, should the more solid return of profit, from any 
cause, be withheld. In England every thing has its value, from a new 
theory down to a patent corkscrew. And when it is so in India ; 
when we find an enlightened public opinion taking an interest in 
the subject; we shall be sure to find leisure for those researches, which, 
as in India (at least for a time) they can scarcely look for any stimu- 
lus beyond that of opinion, must languish or revive, as that opinion 
is withheld or administered. 
With views like these, the opportunity for establishing the work could 
not have been better selected, or in every respect more favorable. The 
Asiatic Society, after so many failures to keep up the meeting of their 
Physical Committee orClass, had roused themselvesto anptherwell-meant 
effort; and with a spirit, and under circumstances, which promised more 
* It is altogether an erroneous idea that science owes much to men of leisure. The 
les3 a man has to do, the less he will do. For a proof of what we assert, look at the 
works of Bacon, of Newton, of the celebrated author of the above passage, and of 
many others ; above all, look at Brougham. 
