1V PEEFACE. 



The details of the internal affairs of the United States embrace the financial 

 condition of the Government ; with the practical operation of its systems of 

 taxation ; its currency ; debt ; the banks ; commerce and agriculture ; the pro- 

 ceedings in the Southern States to reorganize their civil and social affairs ; the 

 position and rights allowed to the freedmen, with the practical operation of the 

 Freedmen's Bureau ; the various political conventions of the year, both national 

 and State ; the acts of State Legislatures ; the results of elections ; the progress 

 of educational and charitable institutions under the care of the State govern- 

 ments ; the debts and resources of the States, and all those facts which serve to 

 show their growth and development. 



The intercourse of tne United States with foreign nations, as presented in 

 its diplomatic correspondence, is noticed, and the civil, military, and commercial 

 history of all the states of Europe and South America, and the more important 

 kingdoms of Asia, with some countries of Africa, is fully brought up. 



The progress and peculiar features and effective mode of treatment of those 

 scourges known as the Asiatic Cholera and Cattle Disease, are carefully de- 

 scribed. 



The advance in the various branches of physical science, with the new ap- 

 plications to useful purposes which have been developed, have been extensively 

 described. 



Geographical explorations were earnestly continued in all quarters of the 

 globe, and the discoveries which have followed are fully presented. 



The record of Literature is fully as important as that of any previous year, 

 and the works published have been extensively noticed under the various classes 

 to which they belong. 



Nearly all the religious denominations of the country, with an account of 

 their branches, membership, views on political affairs, and the progress of dis- 

 tinctive opinions, from their official sources, are carefully noticed. 



A brief tribute has been paid to the memory of deceased persons of note 

 in every department of society. 



All important documents, messages, orders, treaties, constitutions, arid letters 

 frcm official persons, have been irserted entire. 



