In the Preface to the First Volume of this collection, containing the Diary itself, which was issued in 1887, I have explained how that work came into the hands of the Society, and how the editing of it eventually devolved upon my shoulders.

In the process of seeking further information regarding the history of William Hedges, and of numerous persons mentioned in his Diary, I was led to make rather a wide and protracted search in the records of the India Office, as well as elsewhere. The result has been the addition of two volumes of illustrations to the one of Diary. As to which element represents the bread, and which the sack, I will not venture an opinion; but unquestionably a number of the extracts now furnished are of considerable interest.

In one section (Part II) I have collected a variety of original documents concerning Job Charnock, the Founder of Calcutta, most of which I believe to be now published for the first time; and the same may be said of the details given in Part III, regarding other individuals of less note. Among these may be specified Sir John Gayer, Sir John Goldsborough, Sir Thomas Grantham, Sir Streynsham Master, and Sir Edward Littleton, respecting none of whom will anything be found in existing biographical dictionaries, whatever may be the case hereafter.