Page:Annual Report of the Archaeological Survey of India Vol 1.pdf/9

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PREFACE. traversable, and as Englishmen are led to give more thought to India than such as barely suffices to hold it and govern it, will assuredly occupy, more and more, the attention of the intelligent and enquiring classes in European countries.

“ It will not ho to our credit, as an enlightened ruling power, if we continue to allow such fields of investigation,, as the remains of the old Buddhist capital in Behar, the vast ruins of Kanouj, the plains round Delhi, studded with ruins more thickly than even the Campngna of Borne, and many others, to remain without more examination than they have hitherto received. Every tiling that has hitherto bden done in this way has been done by private persons, imper­ fectly and without system. It is impossible not to feel that there are European Governments, which, if they had held our rule in India, would not have allowed this to be said.

“ It is true that in 1811, on a representation from the Boyal Asiatic Society, and in 1817, in accordance with detailed suggestions from Lord Hardinge, the Court of Directors gave a liberal sanction to certain arrangements for examining, delineating, and recording some of the chief antiquities of India. But for one reason or another, mainly perhaps owing to the officer entrusted with the task having other work to do, and owing to his early death, very little seems to have resulted from this endeavour. A few drawings of antiquities, and some remains, were transmitted to the India House, and some 15 or 20 papers were contributed by Major Ivittoe and Major Cunningham to the Journals of the Asiatic Society; but, so far as the Government is con­ cerned, the scheme appears to have been lost sight of within two or three years of its adoption.

“ I enclose a memorandum drawn up by Colonel Cunning­ ham, who has, more than any other officer on this side of India, made the antiquities of tho country his study, and who has here sketched the course of proceeding which a more complete and systematic archaeological investigation should, in his opinion, take.

“ I think it good,— and none the worse for being a begin­ ning on a moderate scale. It will certainly cost very little in itself, and will commit the Government to no future or unforeseen expense. Eor it does not contemplate the spend­ ing of any money upon repairs and preservation. This,