ADVERTISEMENT.
As to the utility of the preſent publication no objection can be juſtly offered. Before our late extenſive conqueſts of the Dutch ſettlements on the Malay iſlands our trade to the eaſt of Hindooſtan was very confined, but ſince our eſtabliſhment at (PULO PINANG) PRINCE OF WALES'S ISLAND, it has become of ſuch conſequence as to render every means of facilitating a communication between us and the Malays, an object of national importance. Since our conqueſt of theſe, how much more that has become a deſideratum muſt be ſelf evident.
In this view of its utility we confine ourſelves to Britain alone: but when it is conſidered, that we are offering to the public a Grammar and dictionary of a language which has become the LINGUA FRANCA of a portion of the globe more extenſive than that of any other tongue in the world, we hope, we are in ſome meaſure clearing the way for the future labours of the philoſopher, the navigator, and the merchant of every nation.
Untill now the only aſſiſtance to be obtained by the Malay ſcholar was through the medium of BOWREY'S Grammar, printed a century ago*, a work of great induſtry and merit, that diſtant period conſidered, and to which in the preſent volume we acknowledge our many obligations.
- In the year 1701, with a dedication to the then directors of both companies, before they were united, in which the names of each are printed at full length. No account can be traced of Mr. BOWREY or his book in the preſent Remeinbrancer's Office, fo as to do him the credit due to his memory, or foreſight, which the publiſher is deſirous of doing, who, though engaged in an extenſive buſineſs ever fince May 1752, never could fee more than three copies, notwithſtanding his frequent enquiries.
