Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-07-07


give more popular abridgment but as he
rather lent his name than his talents, had
never studied the subject, and forgets to
quote the original authorities, his book has
fallen into neglect. It is indeed insipid;
for he, as well as his predecessor, seems to
forget. that what may be deeply impressive
in the first person, and in the unstudied ex-
preston Of the original traveller, may lose
its principal attractions when narrated in the
uniform language, and studied colours of
style, of the general historian.
Il is unnecessary to mention two volume
nous compilations of this description, which
have recently appeared in Germany ana
Spain ;4neither Of them have Alright to claim
exemption from hecensure above convey
ed. But while other nations evince kind
of emulation in this department., it becomes
more and more worthy of this great COM
smercial country, whose discoveries are
boundless, and whose power encircles the
globe,as she gave thehrss pattern Of areput-
able work Of this nature, to afford the exam
pie of proportional superiority in new pub
LEGATION, in which truly scientific plan shall
be combined with merit Of execution con-.
formable to the literary taste and splendor
of the present age.
Impressed with these considerations, and
animated BY the hope Of liberal encourage
ment from a discerning and enlig htened pub
7 lie, the editors of this prospectus had long
revolyed the design of such collection
The novelty and merit IS she arrangement
pursued by Mr.. Pinkerloi in his system Of
Modern Geography, induced them to think
of that gentleman, as his geographical Pur-
suits seemed particularly to qualify him for
such an undertaking, and his known habits
of literary industryt to conduct it with great
labor and perseverance. Even while de-
tanned in France, they knew that he was oc-
cupied with researches Of this very drscrip-
ton for anew edition of his Geography =
nor were they surprised upon his return to
learn that he had even digested the plan Of
grand work of this nature.
The chief object of such collection should
be to preserve what is most important and
interesting in the numerous books of yoy-
ages and travels which have at any time ap-
peared. A general chronological dis,ribu-
zion would be highly objectionable, as by dis
tracing the readers attention to various and
,remote regions, he would only find confu-
sion instead of order. The arrangementmust
thereforebe such, that sometimes one volume
sometimes two may be allotted 10 particular
countries aIIa 5v.,~.-->-e4f-the world and
form as it were complete edlhces III tEltn-
u, Ir1i u.
posed that Europe should assume the hrst
rank and the first volumes Will present
the most curious and interesting voyages
and travels to the remote parts OF that dl-
vision of the globe; as Iceland, Lapland,
Novaya Zembla, Spitsbergen, &c. Some
short narratives Of travels still remain IN
manuscripts in various libraries /; these,
when really interesting, shall be inserted
or extracts of them introduced. All the
travels in foreign languages mus! be trans
lated or abridgs I'd with great fidelity and eS-
actncss: SO as to constitute work OF au-
theptic reference.
Ii is proposed to pass embarrassing de-
tails. and those which are superseded by
farther discovery and the progress OF knowl-
edae.. and % form selection only OF such
works and parts as will ever interest the ge-
neral reader, from the intrinsic value OF
the narrative as forming an epoch III the
progress of discovery, as being remarkable
for fidelity or animation 8, IN some lew &
short instances, from their great rarity. An
introductory vol. which will however be the
last in the. order of publication is reserved
for an historical introduction and general
descriptive catalogue of the works omitted
in the present collection which is intended
RI be- SO constructed as not only to embrace
every interesting production to be found in
she formerlarge compilations, but also great
number which have escaped the researches