i v PREFACE. 



contains a brief sketch of its history during the year, and all official or trust- 

 worthy information later than that given in the preceding volumes, on area, 

 population, religion, education, finances, army, navy, commerce, industry, etc. 

 Great efforts are made to secure the completest material from all parts of the 

 world, and the succeeding volumes of this Annual not only show, from year to 

 year, a greater abundance of information, but its superiority over all other pub- 

 lications of a similar scope is more generally appreciated and recognized. It is 

 felt that in this, as in other departments, the work may be safely consulted as 

 the completest and most reliable book of reference ; and many of its figures, like 

 those on the area and population of the several countries, have passed into the 

 geographical text-books used in American schools. 



In order to make this information still more useful, a comparative article has 

 this year been introduced, under the head of THE EARTH, which gives the sum- 

 maries of the area and population of the large divisions of the globe, as well as 

 the latest statistical aspects of the great creeds of mankind. It is intended to 

 continue this comparative article in subsequent volumes, and to extend the sum- 

 maries to other subjects. 



The special articles on the great religious denominations constitute in their 

 entirety a brief religious history of the year, probably the only one now acces- 

 sible in the English language. The extensive use which is made of these pages 

 of the CYCLOPAEDIA in the religious press and contemporaneous literature proves 

 its value, and is a spur to making it, from year to year, more comprehensive 

 without increasing its bulk. 



The biographical department comprises articles or brief notices of deceased 

 persons of distinction in state, church, society, and literature. The department 

 will this year be found to be very complete, and to include the last owners of 

 several names of great lustre in history (see CAVOUR, SCHARNHORST, and STU- 

 ART, in FOREIGN OBITUARIES). The space devoted to living men is gradually 

 enlarged, as it is intended to embrace within its scope the plan of a dictionary 

 of men of the times. Men will be noted when they rise to eminence or fill 

 prominent positions. Among the biographical notices given in the present vol- 

 ume are the new Ministers of several European States, the Presidents of Legis- 

 latures and large religious assemblies, and brief notices of each of the seventy- 

 five French Senators elected by the National Assembly. 



The advance in the various branches of astronomical and chemical science, 

 with new and valuable applications to various purposes, is extensively described. 



The narrative of geographical discoveries in tie different parts of the earth ? 

 with their results, is very complete. 



The record of literature and literary progress in the United States, and in 

 each of the countries of Europe, is as full and important as during preceding 

 years. 



All important documents, messages, orders, and letters from officials, have 

 been inserted entire. 



A General Index of all the volumes, in one volume, is not only completed, 

 but will soon be issued. 



