PREFACE.
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It must be the common experience of all who have passed middle life to find that important events in which they took part, and great men with whom they were well-acquainted, are absolutely unknown to the rising generation. I certainly have been much struck with the general want of information of the comparatively recent history of Bengal during the last thirty years. Traditions linger here and there : certain names are associated with particular occurrences : but such recollections are often inaccurate and always incomplete. The reason is not far to seek. There is no connected "history of our own times" in Bengal. There are excellent gazetteers, reports, statistical accounts, and books of reference ; but such works may not be readily available : they are sometimes dry reading, and at any rate they require search and study.
The object of these volumes is to supply the want of a continuous narrative of the official history, the principal events, and the personalities of a definite period. It is chiefly a compilation, as it is based on verbatim extracts from Administration Reports, Gazettes, official papers, books (some of standard merit, and others less known to fame), newspapers, and other public sources. An effort has been made to include every matter of importance in Bengal, and to give such an account in each instance as should satisfy either the ordinary or the official reader. Figures have necessarily been reproduced where essential, but statistics have been generally avoided. Documents have sometimes been quoted in extenso : in other cases the narrative is much condensed. To those who read for amusement only, such a compilation will present but few attractions : those who seek information will, it is hoped, find it in a handy form. In the abundance of materials the difficulty of selection has been considerable. "The art, like all art," as has been said, " consists in seeing and seizing the right facts and giving them prominence." As the work does not aim at being an encyclopaedia, it is impossible to satisfy everybody, but a future edition, if called for, can supply any obvious omissions which may be brought to light.
