293 
1829.] On the Introduction of Lithography into India. 
of the river ; for instance, where the channel is straight, with deep water, from side 
to side, and no sand-bank, there will be no bore at any time ; but a mere swell 
on the coming in of the tide. This is the case at the lower part of Garden Reach, 
opposite the Botanic Garden. This is the ca^e also off Calcutta at Howrah 
Ghaut, where the back channel having lately filled up, the main channel is now con- 
fined between high hanks. It is only where the main channel lies on one side, with 
a low sand on the other, that the bore shews itself upon the latter. This, a very 
few years ago, was the case opposite to Calcutta, and there was at that time an 
enormous bore, but which, as above explained, exists no longer. 
IV —On the first Introduction of the Lithographic Art into India. 
[In a letter from the Superintendent of the Government Lithographic Press.] 
In our 2d Number, we published a short notice oil the rise and progress of the 
Lithographic art in India. New to the subject ourselves, we were not judges of 
its correctness, nor did we doubt but that it gave a fair and faithful account of the 
subject. We have understood however that such is not tlie case, or at least that the 
claims of one individual deserving of more extended notice are past over with 
slight mention, while the honor of introducing the art into this country is given to 
one who whatever his other merits, is not entitled to this particulai credit 
IVe have been favored with a sight of the following letter, written on the occasion, 
by the gentleman alluded to, and we gladly avail ourselves of the permission of 
the person to whom it is addressed, to publish it. Our first wish is, of course, to repair 
our unintentional mistake ; but we think, independent of this consideration, our 
readers will find it sufficiently interesting. 
My dear Sir, , ... . , 
You have expressed a wish to obtain some particulars regarding the establishment 
of the Art of Lithography in India ; and as you are a member of the Lithographic 
Committee, I feel it as well a matter of duty as of pleasure to comply. IV th regard 
to the use that you may wish to make of this communication, I have only to say 
that as far ns I am myself concerned you are left perfectly at liberty. 
In a letter such as this, written during the few moments of leisure left me by tlie 
duties of my department, and under a hundred interruption , you will not expect to 
find more than a simple detail of facts ; which, if it appear rather frequently to be 
occupied with mv own proceedings, will not, 1 hope, be more so than the nature of 
the subject demands. For the style of a private letter I shall not make any apo- 
logy : suffice if I am intelligible. , c . , , . 
K'liTv in the vear 1821, I returned to Europe for the benefit of medical advice, 
having unfortunately lost both health and hearing by exposure to the inclenieuev of 
all weathers in the discharge of my professional I duties, during - the 1 nffiara and Ma .- 
ratta campaigns of 1816, 17, 18, and 19. Finding from the opinion ot the most 
eminent practitioners in London, that the recovery of my tearing was hopeless I 
proceeded to Scotland. Soon after my arrival there I had a relapse of ray fever, 
and for the sake of obtaining the advice of my former preceptors, I repaired to Edin- 
burgh After a partial recovery I was on the eve of departure (intending to make a 
round of visits to the families of my several Indian friends) , when I accidentally met 
with ail old schoolfellow Mr. Alexander Forrester. 
In the conr-e of conversation he mentioned, that amongst other occupations he 
had been nraetising Lithography with some success, and asked me if I knew any 
thing of the art. To this I replied in tlie negative, adding that, from the little I 
had read of it, it appeared to be of no particular interest or inipiu tance. Ferceivung 
that I hail no very precise notions on the subject, he offered to exhibit the whole of 
the process to nm, and explain the rationale; and we accordingly adjourned to h.s 
^ To render the exhibition more striking, he requested me to write on the transfer 
paper any word or sentence. Being done, it was transferred to the stone, and in a 
few minutes several impressions were struck off. . 
All this was effected with such precision and rapidity as to draw many expres- 
sions of admiration from me. It immediately occurred to me how peculiarly 
adapted the new art appeared to the wants of India, more especially in printing the 
