THE END.

B. Bensley, Bolt Court, Fleet Street.

Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew her put to the worse in a free and open encounter?"-MILTON'S AREOPAGITICA.

SINCE these memorable words were penned, by one whose judgment in political truth was not less accurate and profound, than his genius in poetical conception was daring and sublime, the world has witnessed rapid advances in all the natural sciences, as well as in the ornamental and the useful arts of life. It has not been thus, however, with politics and morals, notwithstanding the superior importance of these to the happiness and welfare of man. Philosophers have made immense strides in almost every department of physical knowledge, even since the time of Newton: but what have they contributed to morals and politics since the days of Bacon, Milton, and Locke? In the earliest ages of the world, when even the first principles of many of the sciences now fully developed were unknown, the advantage of publicity in bestowing praise and censure, the one to incite to good, and the other to restrain from bad actions, was well understood. Yet, while every other indication of advancing knowledge has been abundantly apparent, so slow has been the spread of this early discovery, that only among a few of the modern nations of the earth is it sufficiently understood or valued, to be thought worthy of any sacrifice to maintain; and even in these favoured nations there are still thousands who either

do not comprehend, or who will not admit, that the interests of Truth and Justice are best promoted by the fullest publicity, and the constant and frequent trials of the strength or weakness of conflicting opinions, by bringing them to "grapple in free and open encounter."

The issue of a long-contested struggle in defence of this important doctrine, has given birth to the present Publication; and although the immediate consequences of that issue may continue for some time to be severely felt by the individual who is not ashamed to suffer in so proud a cause; yet, if the remote advantages of it be seen through the good which these pages may sooner or later be the favoured medium of promoting among his countrymen at home, and the millions who look up to them for protection and instruction abroad, he will be amply rewarded for all that he has endured. In explanation of what is here alluded to, it may be sufficient to state briefly in these introductory sheets, that the Proprietor and Editor of this Work, after having personally visited most of the principal countries in the eastern and western world, was engaged during the last five years of his residence in India in encouraging, through the medium of the Press, such inquiries and discussions as appeared to him best calculated to improve the condition of the natives of the East, and to advance the best interests of the British nation in that extensive portion of their empire. The last temporary Governor General of that country was among the number of those who did not understand the worth, or could not comprehend the universal application, of Milton's beautiful and expressive maxim; unless he were hostile to the victory of Truth, and therefore forbade her open encounter with her Be this as it may, he was determined both to license" and prohibit." He accordingly banished from the country the chief promoter of views opposed to his own; and put the press under such restraints, that Falsehood has now the whole field to herself for while "6 every wind of doctrine" is there "let loose to play upon the earth," Truth is no longer permitted to be in the field to oppose them. For this reason it is important that a new scene should be opened to her efforts; and though this be a remote one, her power is fortunately great, and her influence capable not only of bounding over time and space, but of breaking through even the stronger barriers of prejudice and hate combined. May her omnipresence be felt, and her omnipotence acknowledged, through regions hitherto a stranger to her reign!

enemy.

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The duty of nations to enlighten and improve the condition of the people they subjugate, can scarcely require to be enforced by argument: the advantage to the rulers and the ruled, of increasing the common stock of information regarding the several interests of each, cannot be disputed. To facilitate the accomplishment of these important ends, will be one of the principal objects always kept in view in the conduct of this Publication; and to such labours the aid of all who deem them worthy of their attention is particularly invited. Extending its views both to the Oriental and Occidental world, it will consider the improvement of these, the leading purpose for which it is established; and

every thing that is connected with the interests of our Indian empire in the East, and our Colonial possessions in the West, as well as the numerous smaller settlements subject to the British rule, and studding the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Mediterranean Seas, will find in its pages a welcome reception. It should be added, however, that though these will be the principal, they will not be the exclusive objects of attention. The principle of UTILITY will be the standard by which all claims on its space will be determined. But when these claims are satisfied, the less important ones, which have merely talent in their execution, and pleasure for their object, will not be neglected.

It remains to state briefly the general order and arrangement which will be observed in the Work, as far as it may be practica ble to maintain these with uniformity. The first portion of each Number will be devoted to Original prose Articles, Reviews of new Books, occasional Poems, and short Essays on such subjects as may be deemed best suited to the peculiar objects of the Publication, and most likely to inform and gratify all classes of its readers. The second portion will be given to the Letters of such persons as may adopt this channel of laying before their countrymen, at home or abroad, the peculiar sentiments they may entertain on any subject coming within the range of public discussion: and in this department of the Work, the utmost liberty will be given to men entertaining the most opposite sentiments, to state them freely and fully. The opinions of the Editor will necessarily stamp a certain character on the general shape and tendency of his Publication, which he trusts will be found to be friendly to the best and dearest interests of the human race: but others will be as free to express their opinions as himself, however widely they may differ from him, provided only that they confine themselves to the public conduct of public men, without descending to an invasion of domestic life, and the slander of private character, which will never be encouraged. The third portion will contain faithful Reports of Debates in the India House, and British Parliament, on Indian and Colonial questions; so as to preserve much of what is now lost to the world, from not being deemed of sufficient general interest to be included in the reports of the London papers. When no such debates occur, occasion will be taken to review the political events of the intervening period, as affecting the interests of our eastern or western dependencies. An accurate and carefully digested account of the progressive Discoveries and Improvements in Science and Art, for the gratification of those to whom the expensive books, through which they are scattered, are not always accessible, will complete this department of Home Intelligence, compiled principally for the information of readers who are dispersed over the eastern and western world. The fourth portion will be more peculiarly gratifying to those at home, who feel a deep and continual concern in the events of every description that mark

the progressive history of our distant settlements. In this will be given a general summary of the Latest Intelligence that has reached England from every quarter of India and the Colonies up to the period of publication. This will be succeeded by occasional Selections from the Journals of each country, to exhibit, as nearly as possible, a faithful picture of the several communities of which they may be considered as the respective organs.

It has been deemed proper to enumerate these intended arrangements at this early period, that the Reader's attention may not be again intruded on by a recurrence to them: and that he may enter on the Work also with an assurance, that though the great Questions of Policy are likely to occupy the largest portion of its pages, the minor articles of intelligence will not be forgotten: it being the wish of its Conductor to unite in it, as far as it may be found practicable, the several advantages of a Journal, a Magazine, and a Review. The distinguishing feature which it will be most ambitious to attain, will, however, be that of using the privilege of a Briton, proud of the distinction which such a privilege confers, to discuss freely and fearlessly the public measures now pursuing, or in future intended to be pursued, towards our numerous dependencies abroad. It is this that the press in India dares not do. It is this that the press in England is too much occupied with matters nearer home to afford time or space to do. It is this vacant niche in the Temple of Public Opinion that this Publication may therefore hope to fill with honour to itself, and advantage to those whose cause it may advocate: and from which, when it ceases to discharge its duties faithfully, it will deserve to be removed.

On examining the several articles prepared for this Number, and the respective extent of each, some apology seems to be necessary for the apparently undue portion given to the subject of the INDIAN PRESS, which has grown under the hands of the writer to an extent that he did not contemplate when he commenced it. The importance of the subject, to India at least, may be easily imagined, when it is stated that the legislative measures arising out of it, occupied so closely and entirely the attention of the Indian Government and Court for several months, that no other public transactions of any note or interest, are recorded during that period of time; and as if this were insufficient, the Governor General himself found it necessary to write a laboured and voluminous Statement, forming a thick quarto pamphlet, in palliation of the decrees, which he conceived the interests of the country equired him to issue and to execute. If it were deemed so important in India, it ought not to be considered less so here, where whatever legislative enactments may be necessary to remove the evil must originate; and where it is, for that reason, of the utmost importance that the question in all its bearings should be fully understood. It is hoped, therefore, that the length of the