well supports its stability by the strong proof he adduces of Pigafetta's Vocabulary of the Tidore language, in 1521, differing in no respect from that of the present day. Mr. Marsden seems to conclude that the Malay population of this archipelago has its root in Sumatra, the inhabitants of which island claim immediate descent from some of the companions of Noah, landed there from the ark; and both Mr. Marsden, and Mr. Raffles, the present Governor of Java, assert, that the language spoken in Sumatra differs in no material respect from that spoken in the Malayan peninsula.

Upon any occasion where additional light could be thrown upon the subject of these islands, the translator has not scrupled to avail himself of the best authorities for that purpose. The Voyage de Sonnerat aux Indes orientales et a la Chine, edited and enlarged by Sonnini, has been of great service in this respect, as containing the most authentic information which was possible to be procured by a foreigner, aided by every facility which the influence of the court of France over that of Madrid could furnish, and entering upon the undertaking with the express intention of seconding the views of France on the colonial establishments of her European neighbours.

The translator hopes that, on the whole, the notes and extracts will not be found unimportant or useless.

On the subject of the map of the Philippines, accompanying this work, the translator trusts he will be excused expressing the gratification he feels in presenting it to the world as the only correct delineation of these islands in existence. A collection of the existing authorities he found answered no purpose, as being at variance not only with each other, but still more with the unpublished manuscript, and other authentic information he derived from the most competent private sources. To John Barrow, Esq. second Secretary, and Captain Hurd, Hydrographer to the Admiralty, he feels greatly indebted for the communications they favoured him with, and for amenity and politeness which accompanied them. To the first eastern scholar in this country, probably in Europe, Dr. Wilkins, Librarian to the East India Company, he owes more obligations than he can express. He takes this opportunity of expressing his gratitude for the kind assistance afforded by Captain Horsburgh, Hydrographer to the East India Company, who has had full opportunity, for the exercise of his practical and theoretical acquirements as a navigator in the eastern Archipelago, and who surveyed the western coasts of these islands, and in particular the northern extremity of the island of Luzon; to him he owes the correction of many errors, in respect to latitude and longitude, which disgrace the existing charts; and to him likewise the map is indebted, for a more perfect delineation of the coasts, and for the disappearance of certain dangerous rocks which he has ascertained to have no existence. From these sources, aided by the suggestions of commanders in the India service, in regard to the nautical part, and from John Guise, Esq. of Baker-street, whose residence of nine years in Manila afforded him ample means of information respecting the interior of Luzon, the map, it is presumed, may be deemed the most correct extant. To this latter gentleman he has to acknowledge further obligations on the score of the general information he has kindly furnished. To his friend, John Jackson, Esq. whose literary attainments do him so much honour, the translator is under particular obligations for the kind assistance afforded him in regard to the map. To Peter Guichenet, Esq. he feels particularly indebted, as well as to another friend, for the permission to extract from his excellent manuscript translation of Sonnerat as much as answered his purpose.

The merit of a translator is very limited. He is answerable for