REVIEW 
OF WORKS ON SCIENCE 
AND 
JOURNAL OF FOREIGN SCIENCE AND THE ARTS. 
EMBRACING 
MINERALOGY, GEOLOGY, NATURAL HISTORY, PHYSICS, &c. 
REVIEW. 
THE JOURNAL OF THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF 
BENGAL, EDITED BY JAS. PRINSEP, ESQ. 
F. R. S. SEC. AS. SOC. HON. MEM. AS. SOC. 
PARIS, COR. MEM. ZOOL. SOC. LONDON AND 
OF THE ROYAL SOC. MARSEILLES. VOL. IV. 
JANUARY TO DEC. 1835. CALCUTTA BAFT. 
MISSION PRESS, 1835. 
Although upon the first publication of our 
Journal, it professed to embrace subjects 
purely medical, we have yet, from time to 
time, been led to the introduction of other 
scientific matter, which may in the opinion we 
fear of some of our contemporaries be deviating 
from the original intention of the work, inas- 
much as it was not in connection with the 
simple acquisition of medical intelligence. 
'1 his was, in fact, but experimental. We felt 
sure that general science could not be without 
interest to men whose peculiar education had 
afforded them decided advantages for the 
prosecution of scientific studies; while we 
hoped that the intrinsic value of our Journal 
would not be lessened in their opinion, by 
becoming the channel of instruction, as well 
as of amusement, to all. There can be 
no just reason why a work which commences 
on one specific subject, should not be extend- 
ed to others, provided it can be shewn that 
any good is likely to ensue from the exten- 
sion. In this consideration we increased its 
pages by inserting extracts from works of 
Scientific repute, and have found—what we 
looked to find— the encouraging result of an 
increasing subscription list, without the with- 
drawal of support for having so ventured to 
wander from what would have been strictly 
speaking, the more proper and immediate ob. 
jects of the India Journal of Medical Science. 
To guard against further misconception 
the Medical Journal, as must now be per- 
ceived, is wholly distinct. The advantage of 
combining the Journal of Foreign Science 
with it is, that in their present united form, 
they are got up at a less expeiice than they 
would be were they supplied seperately, and 
we are enabled from the peculiar Regulations 
of the Post Office to send both to our sub- 
scribers free of additional post office charges. 
The perusal of a periodical merely pro- 
fessional, could afford but a meagre and 
very limited interest. But in allotting a space 
for other matter, we have the prospect of com- 
bining knowledge and recreation ; and while 
we endeavour to spread out a repast adapted 
to all astes, we reckon on the indulgence and 
good feeling of our Brethren whom we would 
serve with our best ability, for granting us a con- 
tinuance of their suffrages in the performance. 
Having thus explained our intentions, we 
shall now reduce our professions to practice, 
and commence our review with a notice of the 
Asiatic Journal for the past year, Tliis work 
is published in nos. monthly, and edited by 
Mr. Jas. Prinsep, a gentleman eminently 
qualified to maintain its celebrity and sustain 
its pretensions, side by side, with the literary 
productions of Europe, where amongst the 
learned, it has long passed current, and been 
received as standard. It touches upon all 
subjects of Indian research, embracing his- 
tory, geology, statistics, religion, literature, 
geography, numismatics, &c. and opens to us 
a vast range of investigation on every one of 
these points. Before entering, however, on a 
critical examination of the contents, which 
from the limited space we can afford, must 
necessarily be continued from No. to No.,— 
we shall pause to remark upon the conduct of 
Government, in withholding its patronage, 
its fund, and support from the Society, 
