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PREFACE. 
been ascertained and made known through the chemist and geologist, may we 
not reasonably expect that they will excite a spirit of enquiry, and a desire for 
scientific education in the people here ; and that they will soon learn that this 
is the largest empire in the world, — the repository of the most valuable and 
precious ores, — the greatest repository of diamonds hitherto discovered; a 
country rich in spices, drugs, colours, silk, cotton, saltpetre, saffron, coffee, 
sugar, rice, &c. ; that its manufactures in silks, embroidery, and cottons, have 
long since excited the admiration of Europe ; that its animal and vegetable pro- 
ductions, its metals, minerals, and valuable natural productions are scarcely yet 
known ; and that science and the arts have yet to develope these internal re- 
sources, which will ere long raise its character ? Is it extravagant to hope under 
British rule that it will become the greatest commercial nation in the world? 
The realization of these objects, however, depends materially upon the policy 
which the government of India may adopt in regard to its revenue. \¥hether 
it endangers manufactures and population, or whether with the constant exten- 
sion of boundary it takes measures to improve the soil, realize millions 
of acres which are now covered with forest, brush-wood, and stagnant waters ; j 
whether it facilitates inland navigation, by deepening harbours, constructing 1 
docks, and encouraging ship-building, — the whole depends upon the adoption 
of a system of national policy, by which the advantages to the Government and 
^he community may be reciprocal. It is during the times of peace that the 
great work of national improvement should go on, not as a matter of expedi- 
ency, but of positive necessity. If we desire to erect the fabric of our rule 
and future prosperity on a permanent basis, while we are giving encouragement 
to trace out the unexplored gifts of nature and bring into action the hidden trea- i 
sures of the land, we must concilitate public regard, by promoting the pros- 
perity of the people. A specific sum might justly be appropriated to objects 
of national improvement, which, besides giving encouragement to ingenuity i 
and merit, and employment to the industrious, would promote the circulation ' 
of the specie throughout the country; increase the demand for various articles | 
of inland manufacture ; and finally produce in their operation an annual equi- ' 
valent equal to the whole amodht of the original outlay, and most probably i 
exceed it. 
But we must hasten to a conclusion — we have only to state how far our views 
have been supported ; this may be seen by the size of our publication and 
numerous plates which embellish it. It commenced with 32 pages and has pro- 
gressively increased to 64, without additional cost to subscribers ; and we trust, so I 
soon as we experience a mitigation in the post office regulations, we shall be able 
to add numerous improvements, tending not only to increase the interest but the 
value'of the work, on receiving additional support, which is essential to bring to 
perfection a periodical of the kind we have described. 
