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under his command, till the hour when I saw his eyes closed in death, that I now sorrowingly bring forward his name. Nor is it I alone that regrets him; all who sailed with him-all who knew him-will, I am confident, when they remember Captain John Pearson, remember him with affection and respect, and shed a warm tear at his early fate.

To my other shipmates in the Lonach I also dedicate the volume. They are now scattered far and wide; but it probably may meet the eye of some, and possibly may awaken in their bosoms some fond recollections. It, at all events, carries to them my affection and regard unabated.

JAMES WALLACE.

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PREFACE.

It may be a matter of surprise to some, the appearance of "reflections" on a voyage so common as that to Madras and Bengal. We have of late, however, had " Travels," and

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Voyages," and " Tours," given to the world in abundance, speaking of parts and things perhaps not more interesting or new than an Indian voyage. Nor do I think, for all this travelling and publishing, that the ground is yet wholly occupied, or even the most common of subjects altogether exhausted; there seems still to be a little room left, though so many have been already forward to tell their stories, for another straggler yet to step into and tell his. But indeed I pretend not to give much new in what I now present; the reflections, I

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believe, being just such as

must naturally occur to the majority of those who embark on a sea voyage. None, however, that I know of, had before thrown them into the form which I have here adopted. When I entered on my first voyage, like many others, I meant to have kept a private journal of daily occurrences, merely for my own satisfaction and amusement. But it soon occurred to me, that a volume such as the present, might be acceptable to a few out of the many who annually take their departure from England for India. It occurred to me, that a thing which would give the traveller to India some idea of what he is to meet with on his journey to it, as well as on his arrival; a thing which might instruct as well as amuse, might be useful. I therefore relinquished my first intention, and set about the present work. And though in writing it, I kept India and my Indian voyage principally in view, I wrote what I thought might also apply to any voyage. My object has been, to give an idea of some of the most striking cir

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