PREFACE. THE Englishman in India' was written for publication, and published in The Monthly Packet.'-My special aim and object in writing these papers has been to interest young readers in the prominent events and persons belonging to the history of British India. If I could have done this without treading on ground consecrated by the pen of Lord Macaulay and Mr. John Kaye, I should for my own sake have avoided a position of disadvantage. But in order to embrace the whole. subject before me, it was necessary to walk on paths already partially trodden by abler men. That I have so ventured is the best proof I can give of my sincere wish to improve and to interest my readers. I would ask them to bear in mind the dates given in the Chronological Table, which is the key to all the earlier chapters of this little book. The last three chapters are reprinted from one of my former works,* and with this object. If I succeed in interesting any young student of Indian History so *Notes on the N. W. Province of India. far as to induce him to put to himself the question, 'Shall I go to India?' he will here have a short but, I believe, a true description of the sort of work he may expect in that distant sphere of action. CHARLES RAIKES. NETHERAVON: May, 1867. |