PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. 



THE facts and events collected in this series of volumes are so numerous 

 that, in order to keep this Index within reasonable limits, it has been found 

 necessary to generalize them extensively. Thus those relating to the history of 

 a state or nation will be mostly found under the title of such state or nation. 

 Facts in science are placed under the department of science to which they 

 belong. Proceedings of organizations are generally to be found under the title 

 of such organizations, unless they are of a very, important nature. Individuals 

 are specially noticed whenever their actions give importance to affairs, and upon 

 their decease. Some of the events of the period comprised in these volumes 

 rank among the most important in modern history. Of wars, there is the 

 American Civil "War ; the Austrian, Italian, and German War ; the German 

 and French War, besides others of less note. The emancipation in the United 

 States ; the establishment of the French Eepublic ; the centralization of Ger- 

 many, the union of Italy, the revolution in Spain ; the Vatican Council are 

 among the most prominent in civil and religious affairs. But it is the peace- 

 ful progress of events that surpasses those of any other period of modern 

 history. 



