iv PEEFACE. 



the important measures and debates in Congress ; the acts of State Legislatures 

 and results of elections ; the finances of the Federal Government and of that 

 of the insurrectionary States, and the important public measures of the latter ; 

 the discussions relative to peace, and the efforts to obtain it ; the commerce of 

 the country and the regulations for commercial intercourse with the South and 

 all these important occurrences comprised in the history of the nation. 



The interesting events relating to foreign nations in all parts of the world 

 are presented ; also the famous encyclical letter of the Pope, the manner of it* 

 reception, and the questions raised thereby. 



In mechanical industry considerable progress has been made, especially in 

 the department of military implements; and inventions and improvements have 

 been numerous also in other departments. 



The applications of science to useful purposes have been pursued with much 

 diligence, and interesting results are described. 



Geographical explorations have been very actively continued in all quarters 

 of the globe, and the discoveries which have followed are very carefully and 

 fully presented. 



The unusual enterprise which has been awakened by successfully refining 

 and converting to various uses the article of Petroleum, has caused not less 

 .astonishment than the unbounded wealth which it is likely to yield to the 

 country. The history of this branch of industry, including an investigation 

 of all the scientific questions relating to Petroleum, has not been overlooked. 



The record of Literature is not less important than in any previous year. By 

 a reference to that title its most interesting features may be seen. 



A notice of the principal religious denominations of the country states their 

 branches, membership, views on civil affairs, and the progress of their distinctive 

 opinions. 



In no year has the number of distinguished men who closed their career been 

 so large. A brief tribute has been paid to their memory. 



All important documents, messages, orders, despatches, and letters from 

 official persons, have been inserted entire. 



State officers, committees of legislative and other public bodies, prin- 

 cipals of public institutions, whether benevolent, educational, reformatory, 

 scientific, etc., will confer a favor by sending their printed reports and docu- 

 ments to the Publishers. 



