Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-03-17

the French works OF La Croix and o, hers are
too brief; while the German Sompiia Tors
of Bufchins, Fsbri, Eb-ling, &c. &c, are
OF rsost tremendous proiixi,y, arranged 10
the mott taaelefs manner, and exceeding il
dry names, aud ,rihieg details, even the
minutene,s of our Gazetteers. A descrip~
ton of Europe in fourteen qusrto volumes
may well be coutraaed with Strsbo's de-
tcription of the world in one volume: aud
Geography secms 10 be tina, branch Of fci-
ence in which the ancents have eitabli(ied
more ciafiicsl reputation than the moderns.
Every great literary monument may be faid
to be ere6ed by compilation, from the
time of Herodo;us 40 tina, OF Gibbon, ard
from the age Of Homer to that os Shakes
pcare but in the ute of the materials there
IS wide difference between Strsbo, Arr
an, Ptolomy, Pauian;ac, Melh, PlinJ, and
other celebrated ancient names, aud no
dcrn general gcogrsphers eli of whom,
except d'Anvi!le, ieem under. graduates in
! literature, without the di9iDguifae3 talsu,s,
or reputation, which have accompanied al
noa every other literary exestion. Yet it
may lately be affirmed that production of
real value in univcrial Geography requires
a wider extent of yariona knowledge shan
any other literary department, as embracing
topics of the mott multifsrious defcription.
There is however one nsme, that of DAN
vile, peculiarly and Justly eminent in his
scieuce but his reputation is chiefly derived
from h!s maps, and from his illustrators OF
various parts of ancient Gsography. In
! ipeci.l departments, Gofieiiin aad other
: foreigners, nave alto been recently diItin-
guiihed nor is it necefiary to remind the
reader OF the great merit of Rennell and
Vincent in our own country.
With iuch examples the author coufeGes
his ambitious deii.c that the presenr work
may, at leaf. be regarded as more tree from
defects tb,u any preceding fyaem of mo-
aeru Geography. BY the liberali,y of the
Publiihers 40 expenie has been fpared in col
te3ing materials frsm all quarters: and tbe
ai!emblage of books & maps would amount
to an expense hardly credible. If there be
any failue, the blame mutt foley ref with
the author; who icing however couverlanr
with the iubject from his early youth,
when he was accuaom=d 10 draw maps,
while engaged in the Rody of history, aud
never having neglected HE devotion to this
importsot science, ne hopes that the am
pie materials viii! be found not to have been
, entrusted 10 Inadequate hsuda. He may
affirm thu, the mott ,sdulous attention has
been -exetied. in the Geleaioo and arrange
ment OF the mod iuterelting topics and
hs hopes that tie novelty OF the plan will
not only be recommended by greater cafe
and expedition, in usiug this work as a
book OF reference; but By more tria and
cisfhcni correction, 70 40 10 afford more
clear aud satisfa&oyy information OF &c
| neal perulsl. The nature aud csufes OF
the plan shall be explained IN the preIi,A;na
ny observations, a, being intimately con-
ne6ied with other topics there Investigated.
II may here fuffice TO ob(crve, that the
objeets moA eGentially allied with each
other, instead of being difperfed as irag-
msnSa, are here gathered ino diaina heads
or chapters, arranged 10 uniform progrels,
except where particular circumstances CON-
msnded adeyiation; snd;Dsteado OF pretended
httories cad prolix commercial Documents
the chief attention ia devoted TO lnbieefs
tti6tly geographical, but WHICH in prece-
ding lyaems have ofteo appeared in the
tocm Of a mere iitt of names, the evanci-
cent 0.sdes Of knowiedge. Meagfe details
of hiRorJ can DC Of no fervice even TO
youth, and are foreign TO the name and VA
ture OF Geog apply, which, like ChroooIo-
gy, Only afpires to l,uerase hitory aad,
without sncroaching UPON her provinces,
has more than faGicieut difficulties 70 CO.
counter. The States are arranged ascor
ding TO their comparative importance, as it
is proper that the objeas Which deGerse
noA attention lnould be treated at the
grsstse length, aud claim the earliest ob.
lervstion OF the tudent-
10 the T. rodseion Protector Vince
ieemo to have omitted nothing in astronomy.
or one,eorology, that could the least ling
tra,e Geography; ard has carefully availed
himiglf of the laiele Inventions and dilcove.
ries. For the Botany of tbe feveral coun-
tries this work is indebted to Mr.. Arthur
Akin, Jealous and intelligent cultivs,or
Of Natural HiHory. IL may be necehary
10 remind the unlearned reader, that the
Latin names 10 this part are unavoidable,