PREFACE. 
The design of this Journal has been so fully explained 
m the Prospectus, that we might have dispensed with any 
Preface, if we had not been desirous of recording the cor¬ 
dial reception which has been given to the proposal to 
establish it. In particular, the warm interest which the 
Honorable Colonel Butterwortii, c. b. Governor of 
the Straits Settlements, has, from the first, taken in the 
project, and the cordial encouragement and support which 
he has given to it, demand a special acknowledgement. 
The Bengal Government have countenanced the work 
in the manner recommended by him, not only by liberally 
subscribing to it, but by authorizing every facility to be 
given for the communication of information by the Officers 
of Government in the Straits Settlements. From most of 
the local Authorities we have received assurances of their 
aid; and the knowledge which they possess, and the op¬ 
portunities which they enjoy of obtaining information, 
give a high value to their assistance. Many Residents in 
the Straits, whose names will appear in good time where 
w r e most wish to see them, had no sooner become acquaint¬ 
ed with our design than they promised contributions; and 
the valuable article on Gutta Pereha which we are enabled 
to present in the first number, with its important and 
original information, is an earnest how able and willing* 
they are to co-operate in rendering our countrymen better 
acquainted with the Archipelago and its resources. 
We shall endeavour to keep two principal objects stea¬ 
dily in view. The first is, to present as many papers as 
possible that are either original or new to the English 
reader. The second is, to make the Journal a work of 
reference on all subjects connected with the Archipelago, 
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