EXTRACTS FROM THE ENGLISH PREFACE.
Deeply impressed with a sense of the great extent and difficult
execution of a complete Geographical work, the Editor, during nearly
ten years in which he has been engaged upon it, has used the utmost
exertion to procure from every quarter information and aid. He has
studiously collected the most recent, authentic, and accurate accounts
of the extent, natural features, population, productions, industry, political
constitution, literature, religion, and social state of the various
regions of the globe, with the leading details as to their districts and
cities. The sciences connected with the natural history of the earth
have, however, attained to such an extent and importance, that a
thorough knowledge of them can only be possessed by individuals
who have especially devoted themselves to one particular branch.
The Editor, therefore, considered it essential to procure the co-operation
of writers who had risen to acknowledged eminence in the
departments of Geology and Mineralogy, Zoology, and Botany. He
considered that he had fully succeeded, when Professor Jameson
undertook to delineate the geological structure of the globe, and the
distribution of minerals over its surface; Mr. Swainson to explain
the distribution of animals, and the most remarkable of those found
in each particular region; and Dr. Hooker to perform the same task
in regard to the vegetable kingdom. Professor Wallace has illustrated
the relations of the earth as a planet, the trigonometrical surveys,
the construction of maps, and other subjects connected with
mathematical science. These tasks have been executed in a manner
which, it is hoped, will fully support the high reputation of their respective
authors. Various parts relating to remote countries have
been revised by gentlemen recently returned from them. It is only
justice to add, that neither exertion nor expense has been spared by
the Publishers, to enable the Editor to render the work as perfect as
possible.
