The British World in the East; a Guide to India, China, Australia, South Africa, and the other possessions or connections of Great Britain in the Eastern and Southern Seas. By Leitch Ritchie. 2 vols. 8vo., cloth lettered, £1. 4s.
The object of this work is to embody everything of a practical nature that is known of the countries in question, in an historical description of the course of that great eastward stream of commerce and colonization which has commenced a new era in the destinies of the world.
COUNTRIES DESCRIBED.
British India.
Beeloochistan.
Affghanistan.
Cashmere.
Thibet.
Burmah.
Siam.
Malay Peninsula.
Indian Archipelago.
Empire of Anam.
Chinese Empire.
New Zealand and the other Islands of the Pacific.
Japan.
Australia with Tasmania.
Islands of the Indian Ocean.
Southern Africa.
Islands of the South Atlantic Ocean.
"An able summary of events connected with the rise, progress, and present state of the British Empire in the Eastern hemisphere. The author has well worked out the desire of the publishers, 'to have the spirit and results of history in a form at once popular and practical;' and although he professes to give only 'the heads of knowledge,' there is nothing dry in the manner in which his task has been performed; on the contrary, the book is exceedingly readable, and will be found of great value, both as a work of reference, and as presenting a comprehensive and interesting sketch of an important portion of a mighty empire. A work which seems, in every respect, worthy of public patronage."—Foreign Quarterly Review.
"The title of this book will show its comprehensive character, and those who wish to have an Encyclopædia of information on Eastern and Southern history, commerce, everything, in fact, but physical science, and not without a good deal even on that, will here find what they require. It is a condensation of the contents of multifarious volumes, and may justly be termed 'many things in few words.' If read, it will impart to the student nearly all that is known on the subject to which it relates, and afford him withal much entertainment. If kept as a book of reference, few questions relating to Eastern affairs can arise for which it will not furnish a complete answer."—Indian Mail.
"This book will become invaluable for reference, since it embraces all the leading circumstances in the histories and position (social and political) of India, China, and Australia."—Court Journal.
"This comprehensive title-page may be regarded as a faint outline of the prodigious mass of information which is contained in the work to which it belongs. Divided into ten books, subdivided into forty-seven chapters, and consisting of 1,000 rather closely-printed 8vo. pages, the reading, research, and labour, both of mind and pen, requisite for its production, may readily be supposed to have been great. It was with no slight expectation that we sat down to a perusal of his (Mr. Ritchie's) volumes; and we must do him the justice to say, that our anticipations have been more than realized. By judicious management, and by skilfully and forcibly exercising the art of condensation, he has succeeded in drawing within one lucid focus an infinite variety of subjects, all more or less interesting and important."—Naval and Military Gazette.
History of the Punjab, and of the Rise, Progress, and present Condition of the Sect and Nation of the Sikhs, including a full account of the Military Operations on the Banks of the Sutlej in 1846, and the Proclamations and Treaties of the Governor-General in India relating thereto. By Thomas Thornton, Esq. 2 vols. post 8vo., cloth lettered, £1. 1s.