POLITICAL AND STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF MAURITIUS AND ITS DEPENDENCIES. BY CHARLES PRIDHAM, Esq., B.A., F.R.G.S. Ἂν δὲ λέγωσιν ὡς οὐ δίκαιον τοὺς σφετέρους ἀποίκους ὑμᾶς, δέχεσθαι. Speech of the Corcyrean Ambassadors at Athens. Thucydides, Book I. Cap. 34. LONDON : T. AND W. BOONE, 29, NEW BOND STREET. MDCCCXLIX. ADVERTISEMENT. In presenting to the Public the first volume of a work, the execution of which, in conformity with the comprehensive plan developed in this volume, has been deemed by many impracticable, the Author cannot fail to be influenced by sentiments of a mingled character-by a feeling of diffidence when he reflects on his unfitness, at so early an age, for a task that may perchance be rightly deemed gigantic -by a partial satisfaction, accompanied by hope, when he considers that he may have to some extent succeeded in an object which others of far greater ability, but perhaps less patience, have successively abandoned-by a sentiment, he trusts, he may say akin to patriotism, in that he should be the instrument, however humble, of describing the components of an empire that, considered in any point of view, is as unrivalled for its grandeur and fame as for the spirit of wisdom and justice by which its affairs are administered. With these preliminary remarks, he may proceed to observe that difficulties such as are involved in the undertaking a work of this description, and, what is more, in a description of this particular colony, arise not alone from the circumstance that the greater part of the materials are derived from foreign sources, and conveyed in foreign languages; not alone from the severity of the tests to which every thing must needs be subjected; nor the unexampled 514571 |