The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-11-20
TO THE PEOPLE OF VERMONT.

SINCE the publication of the Vermont Gazetteer in ls2
the undersigned has constantly had in contemplation, the
preparation OF work embracing not only the Gaze-
but the natural and civil history o the state, t0geth
or with such statistical tables he should think would be
generally useful for reference He would now inform me
public that he has such work In progress ana a' IL VIII
probably be published in the course OF the next year. n-
less provision made the next session of the LrGisla-
tre for Geological Survey of the state, III which case he
may think il best to defer the publication long enough 10
embrace the result of that survey and thus place II Ine-
,ulely, within the reach of all. The work will be ar
arranged under three general heads each Of which viii con-
stitu,c about third of the whole.
|. The Natural History. In this part, on addition to
the geographical descriptions climate mncraosy, botany
Nc. will be given scientific and popular account OF our
native quadrupCs birds reptiles, and fishes, and OF our
forest trees accompanied in most cases by drawings 10
the preparation of this part of the work he has already
devoted n share of his time for several Years
9. The Ci history This part, in addition to the His.
tory published by the undersigned in 1893, corrected and
brought down to the present time, will contain history
of our College, Universities and Medical Institutions ac-
cOmpane, in tabular form by the names of the mambers
of the respective Corporations, Faculties &c with the
times of coming in and going out of office; and also
Catalogue of all who received degrees al each Institution
from their going into operation down to the present time.
Ii will also contain complete history 0i all the steam
Boats which has been on lake Champnin, and other
interesting items to numerous to be mentioned here.
3. The Gazetteer. This part will he similar to the
Gazetteer by the undersigned in ls2 with corrections
and additions and brought down to the time republication.
1t will also embrace the result of the census now taking,
al the statistics required in connection with it,
The New map to be embraced IN the WORK, VIII ne
nearly three times the size OF that in the old GaLctccr
will be engraved in the best upon steel, and much
pains being taken render it more minute and ac
rate than map of the state at present extent. The
other cngrayngs consisting of plans, of villages, views of
buildings representations Oi animals Ne. are expected to
exceed two hundred The whole work will constitute n
volume of more than 800 large pages printed in
double columns small type and paper Of the best quail
ity,
The undersigned is fully of the rcpugnancc which
generally exists to subscriptions for books OF any kind,
aud of the mpostons upon the public by which
could he prepared and published with no than or
binary labor aud expense, would not presume to ask
his fellow citizens to subscribe. But considering the great
labor and expense of preparing his in addition to the
cost OF cnsravings and publishing and also that it is Il
State rork in which every citizen has an interests and
considering, moreover his inability to meet the expense
olnbShng without some previous assurance OfpntrOnagc
he has concluded to appeal the confidence aud parlio-
ism of his fellow ctzns by sending out papers into the
several towns for the purpose OF procuring subscribers
for the work. Twenty five hundred subscribers is the least
nNmbcr which will justify him in commencing in COM
mcncing the publication but he trusts that
that that number may be obtained in the fact that nearly
tenth part Of that number about 900, have already
been securedn Burlington the only place where any eff
fort hnS been made to procure subscribers and in this
town not more than half the persons who might he
pccch Ia subscribe have yet had M invitation lpublish-
ed the undersigned only promise that he will spare
pains to make crodtabl to himself to the State and tn
make it useful and satisfactory tohis fellow citizens
XADOCk THOMPSON.
Burlington, June %, lSiO