I had been asked by the accomplished lady who has translated the subjoined story to introduce it with a few words of comment to the English public.

For that purpose I commenced the perusal of the proof sheets; but soon found that what was begun as a literary task became a real and singular pleasure, by reason of the author's vivid narrative, his skill in delineating character, and, beyond all, the striking and faithful pictures of Indian life with which his tale is filled.

Nor do these qualities suffer, beyond what is always inevitable, in the transfer of the novel from its original Bengali to English.

Five years ago, Sir William Herschel, of the Bengal Civil Service, had the intention of translating this _Bisha Briksha_; but surrendered the task, with the author's full consent, to Mrs.Knight, who has here performed it with very remarkable skill and success.

To accomplish that, more was wanted than a competent knowledge of the language of the original and a fluent command of English: it was necessary to be familiar with the details of native life and manners, and to have a sufficient acquaintance with the religious, domestic, and social customs of Bengali homes.