-
Articles/Ads
Article LITERARY NOTICES. ← Page 4 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Literary Notices.
colonial empire will , at length , be amply illustrated . In presenting his first volume to the public , the author states in his advertisement , that he 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 haveto some extentsucceeded in an object which othersof 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 contents of an empire that , considered in any point of view , is as unrivalled for its grandeur and fame , as for the spirit of wisdom ancl justice by which its affairs are administered . The author also observes that difficulties , such as are involved in undertaking a work of this descriptionand what is morein
, , a description of this particular colony , arise not alone from the circumstance that the greater part of the materials are derived from foreign sources , ancl conveyed in foreign languages ; not alone from the severity of the tests to which everything must needs be subjected ; nor the unexampled drudgery which a writer , alone and unassisted , must make up his mind to undergo ; nor even from the multifarious nature of the subjects
of which he has to treat ; but from the supreme ignorance and indifference that ( with some brilliant exceptions ) pervades every class of our people with reference to our colonial possessions , not excluding those to whom one might naturally look for assistance in a work of this description ; and in the case of Mauritius , by an equal , if not greater , indifference on the part of the colonists to everything transpiring in Great Britain , save as it may affect their own interests ; causes , whose
combined effect has been to render the dominant country ancl her colony a sort of terra incognita to each other . The present work is , however , well calculated to supply this twofold want ; and we concur with the author in hoping , that when it is known in the Mauritius that its wants are understood , and its people appreciated here , it will tend to bring about the interchange of those kindly feelings on every account so desirable .
Mr . Pridham has divided his work into four parts . The first is occupied with the history of the Mauritius to the present time . The second describes the people , their institutions , education , religion , ancl amusements ; with an interesting account of Piracy in the East , ancl the Slave Trade . The third describes the physical aspect of the country , its climate , geology , mineralogy , and natural productions ; and the fourth , the agriculture and commerce of the island , its government and laws , and a history and description of the Seychelles group , and
dependen . There is also an appendix containing a great variety of valuable and interesting information . The first chapter , on the early discovery of the Mauritius , shows much research ; and the history of the administration of Le Bourdonnais—the effects of the French revolution upon the island—the naval combats and stirring events attendant upon the capture of the island b y the British , are detailed with great accuracy and impartiality .
The nearness of the Aiauritius to the island of Madagascar , afforded great facilities for the introduction of slaves into the former . This was at first undertaken by pirates ; and the way in which the fearful traffic was carried on is very graphically described .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Literary Notices.
colonial empire will , at length , be amply illustrated . In presenting his first volume to the public , the author states in his advertisement , that he 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 haveto some extentsucceeded in an object which othersof 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 contents of an empire that , considered in any point of view , is as unrivalled for its grandeur and fame , as for the spirit of wisdom ancl justice by which its affairs are administered . The author also observes that difficulties , such as are involved in undertaking a work of this descriptionand what is morein
, , a description of this particular colony , arise not alone from the circumstance that the greater part of the materials are derived from foreign sources , ancl conveyed in foreign languages ; not alone from the severity of the tests to which everything must needs be subjected ; nor the unexampled drudgery which a writer , alone and unassisted , must make up his mind to undergo ; nor even from the multifarious nature of the subjects
of which he has to treat ; but from the supreme ignorance and indifference that ( with some brilliant exceptions ) pervades every class of our people with reference to our colonial possessions , not excluding those to whom one might naturally look for assistance in a work of this description ; and in the case of Mauritius , by an equal , if not greater , indifference on the part of the colonists to everything transpiring in Great Britain , save as it may affect their own interests ; causes , whose
combined effect has been to render the dominant country ancl her colony a sort of terra incognita to each other . The present work is , however , well calculated to supply this twofold want ; and we concur with the author in hoping , that when it is known in the Mauritius that its wants are understood , and its people appreciated here , it will tend to bring about the interchange of those kindly feelings on every account so desirable .
Mr . Pridham has divided his work into four parts . The first is occupied with the history of the Mauritius to the present time . The second describes the people , their institutions , education , religion , ancl amusements ; with an interesting account of Piracy in the East , ancl the Slave Trade . The third describes the physical aspect of the country , its climate , geology , mineralogy , and natural productions ; and the fourth , the agriculture and commerce of the island , its government and laws , and a history and description of the Seychelles group , and
dependen . There is also an appendix containing a great variety of valuable and interesting information . The first chapter , on the early discovery of the Mauritius , shows much research ; and the history of the administration of Le Bourdonnais—the effects of the French revolution upon the island—the naval combats and stirring events attendant upon the capture of the island b y the British , are detailed with great accuracy and impartiality .
The nearness of the Aiauritius to the island of Madagascar , afforded great facilities for the introduction of slaves into the former . This was at first undertaken by pirates ; and the way in which the fearful traffic was carried on is very graphically described .