Excerpt from Universal Geography, or a Description of All Parts of the World, on a New Plan, According to the Great Natural Divisions of the Globe, Vol. 1: Accompanied With Analytical, Synoptical, and Elementary Tables; Containing the Theory, or Mathematical, Physical and Political Principles, of Geography, &C

In introductions prefixed to particular departments, we must give a sketch of the general features which a large division of the world possesses in common. We must place a view of the Alps in front of our description of Europe, and a view of the Cordilleras at the beginning of the division appropriated to South America. Do we find some nations which are politically separate, united in their origin, in their language, or in their history - we must collect them into one group, and survey them from one point of view. We must endeavour every where to form our subject into natural masses, easily embraced under one regular vista. Small states musths combinedinto natural groups; the provinces of great empires must be distributed in conformity with the dwe tion of the mountains and the rivers; and the comparisons formed between the different divisions must not be permitted to encumber the current of our discourse, but reserved for exhibition in the form of synoptical and analy tical tables.

Besides our general arrangement, it was necessary to find out the parti cular method best suited for the description of each country. After examin ing all the classifications which authors have given of the objects of special geography, we have found that a too rigorous adherence to these abstract methods has been the real cause of the pedantic dryness attached to books of geography. From this empty technical parade of science, geography, which ought to be a living picture of the universe, has been converted into the gloomy anatomy of a great subject in a dead and dismembered state. Thus it has been held in dread by the young, neglected by the learned, and scorned by the multitude.

From these considerations it has appeared our duty to follow the general principles of the art of writing, and, by varying according to the nature of the subject, not only the tone but the order of our descriptions, we have endeavoured to contrive, for the delineation of each country, a particular scale suited to the relative size and importance of its objects. Where one presents the spectacle of a smiling cultivation, we give a careful detail of its diil'ercnt productions. Where it is uncultivated, we draw an outline of the character impressed on it by nature. At one time, in an imaginary tour, we give an easy enumeration of the towns of the interior. At another, in the character of fire-side navigators, unfettered by the dread of contrary winds or dangerous currents, we proceed from harbour to harbour, and from island to island. Does a particular nation act a leading part in the civilized world -we discuss its powers, its resources, its interests. Is it a savage horde that enga our notice -we take an interest in depicting its manners and mode of iving.

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