The importance of BRITISH INDIA, both in a political and a commercial point of view, made it necessary to give a minute and comprehensive account of that portion of Asia; and, accordingly, three volumes,--the sixth, seventh, and eighth,--have been appropriated to that interesting subject. In these will be found a luminous view of the civil history of Hindostan; exhibiting, in succession, those splendid achievements, both by sea and land, which signalized the early voyages and settlements of the English and Portuguese;--the revolutions effected by the Mohammedan invaders, and the various dynasties established there by that devastating power, the career of which is diversified by such striking vicissitudes of grandeur and humiliation;--and, finally, those still more brilliant events, so glorious to our countrymen, who with a handful of troops subverted all the states which had sprung from the ruins of the Mogul empire, and made themselves masters of a wealthy and fertile territory, containing a population of more than one hundred millions, that still remain in subjection to a government seated at the opposite extremity of the globe. In addition to these historical details, a concise account is given of the present state of British India;--the arts, learning, mythology, domestic habits, and social institutions of the Hindoos;--the labours and present condition of the Missionaries;--the affairs and arrangements of the Company,--including an explanation of the mode and terms on which young men going out to India obtain their appointments;--and a summary of the valuable information recently collected by Parliament respecting the commerce of the country. On the subject of the projected steam-communication with India by way of the Red Sea, which now engages so much of the public attention, some interesting remarks were supplied by the late distinguished officer and historian, Sir John Malcolm, who was surpassed by none in the knowledge of all that relates to the management and resources of our Oriental possessions. To render the information concerning these extensive regions as complete as possible, the Natural History has been fully and methodically treated,--the separate articles being contributed by writers of acknowledged scientific acquirements; so that, by thus directing to one object the talents and learning of many, a more perfect work on British India has been produced, than if the undivided task had been assigned to any one individual.