The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-03 00:00:00

NOTE or THE EDITOR.

' We are happy to have it in our power to answer the in-
quify of our Correspondent ; and take this occasion to say, that
we shall be glad to reply to any questions of a similar natare,
that may be proposed to us by those who desire information on
' any topic within our knowledge.
A Governor General's Agent, of which there are perhaps a
dozen in different quarters of India, Is a Civil Servant in the
Political Department, who is sent to such points as occasion
may require, with powers little inferior to that of a Resident,
the name given to Stationary Ainbassitdors at the Native
Courts. Such Residents as those•at Delhi, Hyderabad, Nag-
pore, Katmandoo, Lucknow, &c, are considered to be the Re-
presentatives of the Governor-General himself; and they exer-
cise almost unlimited power in civil, military, and political
transactions, occurring within their respective provinces, r?ceiv-
big reports from numerous official dependents around them,
and maintaining a correspondence with the Political Secretary
at Calcutta, through whom also they receive the suggestions or
orders of ie Supreme Government as to the general line of
policy they are to pursue, the details being generally left to
themselves.

An \gent of the Governor-General is but one step below a
Resident. His powers are nearly the same In their nature,
though never so extended in degree. The, Resident is station-
ary at a Native Court, with splendid allowances. The Agent
moves in such parts of the country as nifty not pussesa Court
be a Resident, and has a smaller salary and' more limited suite.
He maintains, however, a constant correspondence with the
tical Secretary at Calcutta. The Military Commander, in
the district in which the Agent may be, is sulject told: orders,
as to whether operations are to be carried on, when, and on
what scale ; but the details of such operations are generally, or
at least ought to be, left to the Commander himself. It has
perpetually happened, however, that the Governor-General's
Agent, who is always a civilian, has assumed more on this head
than has been agreeable to the. Military Commander, and per-
petual misunderstandings have been the necessary result. The
office appears to be a useless one, since the Commander could
receive his political orders from headquarters; and if he be tit
for his command, he must be competent to do all that a Go.
vernor•General's Agent, who is always a much younger man,
can do. It is a branch of patronage, hoWever, peculiar to the
Governor.Oeneral, and one du ;,ich few would have the virtue
to recommend the abolition. For this very reason, however,
it is likely to be in general most inefficiently tilled; and the
whole of the Governor-General's Agents throughout India
could, we believe, be better spared than any other class of
public servant* whatever."

L4N of the INTRODUCTORY LECTURE, delivered
on Tuesday last at FREEMASONS' HALL, by Mr. J. S.
BOONE.

PANE IT A T lA.—As a defined method of knowledge, as.
snored to be an improved method, and intended for universal
auplicati(m.
EXPLANATION OP THE CHIEF WORDS IN THIS DEMI.

:'ION—KNOWLEDGE AND METHOD. --
Knowledge defined as a conception of things acquired by
the exercise of .our intellectual faculties.
Method of' knowledge defined as
Ist. The mode of disposing the materials of knowledge.
2d. The mode of applying the mind to the consideration of
these materials.
3d. The mode in which the instruments of knowledge or
sings are contrived, arranged, and combined.
The mode in which external causes operate upon knowledge,
the best method of knowledge, that by which a just conception
of things can be attained most ouily and most effiectuatill, by
which our ideas can be made ajust Copy or Representation of'
the Existences in Nature, and signs ajust Copy or Representa-
tion of our ideas. What Mr. 8 considers to he practically,
the best method; or how a just conception of things can be at-
tained most easily and.most effectually the one subject of the
Lectures.
But before the Question is attempted to be answered, Mr. B.
proceeded to examine in his Preliminary Address whether the:
Question is proper to be asked.
Here he chews,
1. That it is a question by far the most interesting and im-
portant to mankind, by dividing all things which tend to the
perfection of our nature in the individual or in the species, into
the three,
Nature, Knowledge, and Practice—and shelving that an in-
quiry into Knowledge must be preliminary to all others.
2. That the inquiry in its present form and extent is new.
3. That it is wanted in the present state of Society.
4. That peculiar and great advantages are derived from the
mere proposition of the question in its present-simple, abstract
and comprehensive shape—as a perfect unity, including a vast
N ariety of parts;
Z. That if' the question can be well answered, every thing,
must be . improved —because the improvement of knowledge
must he the foundation and corner stone of every other int-
provement..

1 - C. 'That a Course of Lectures is a legitimate mode of con-
ducting such inquiries.
1 7. That them' therefore of the Inquiry is a most useful and
practicable one, whatever may be the future means by which
!lr. D. may attempt to arrive at. it.
Recapitulation and Conclusion. • '
*.* We segret that we have not.space to enlarge upon the
merit of this lecture. The language was correct, elegant, and
forcible. ,It was read by the Learned Lecturer, who, however,
occasionally- illustrated the most important points by extern_
in langue as clear and emphatic as
tpthatnineowuistiecripthla enwatriiottnsen,
documen was expressed. We heartily
wish success to Mr. BOONE in his future Discourses, and
judging from the numerous and respectable audience that at.
tented, anti the applause which he received, we
have little
bes iwiiegllhlyas honourable and, we hope,
beneficial to the interests of
doubt
Literaturethat theand
resultsrien
ee,
will
as
advantageous to himself.