iv PKEFACE. 



looked, or valuable document omitted. The efforts of the Confederacy to secure 

 the cooperation of foreign powers, and of the United States to prevent it, 

 are summarily presented in the letters and instructions of the respective diplo- 



matic agents. 



In thus preparing in a narrative form this portion of the events of the year, 

 although the effort has been made to observe strict accuracy and impartiality, 

 some mistakes may have occurred, which ask for the forbearing consideration 

 of the intelligent reader. 



The developments of science during the year present some interesting par- 

 ticulars. The assent of geologists to the Taconic system advocated by the late 

 Prof. Emmons, after so many years of disbelief, is another instance of the tri- 

 umph of investigation over preconceived errors. The introduction of the meth- 

 od of Solar analysis, which has as yet progressed hardly so far as to receive a 

 name, although Spectrography meets with much approval, may justly be 

 classed among the important events. The conclusions of science, as applied to 

 agriculture, which were reached during the year 1861, will become to the farm- 

 er of great practical value. At the same time, they set aside many opinions 

 and processes of labor which have not yielded fruitful results. They will be 

 found fully explained in a very practical essay from the pen of Prof. J. J. 

 Mapes. 



Geographical explorations were pursued with vigor in various quarters 

 of the globe, and many travellers returned from their perilous journeys of a pre- 

 vious year. In all instances the information is highly interesting, and often 

 valuable. 



Connected with mechanical industry there were many ingenious inven- 

 tions during the year, especially relating to implements of war, some of 

 which have been described, while others are reserved, to be accompanied with 

 such illustrations as more ample time will allow. To mechanical industry, so 

 important in this country, an extensive portion of the annual volume of this 

 work will be devoted. 



The commerce of the whole world was interrupted during the year, and al- 

 though sufficient time has not elapsed to gather the statistics of all its changes, 

 yet the details of disaster to many branches have been made up in these pages. 

 The stupendous resources of the United States, hitherto unconsciously possessed, 

 not only in military and naval affairs, but especially in financial, have been 

 brought to light by the present difficulties. The financial measures of the Gov- 

 ernment and of the States are explained with the most ample details. 



The number of distinguished men who closed their career in 1861 was not 

 so large as in many other years. A tribute has been paid to their virtues and 

 their services. 



Subsequent volumes of this work will be issued about the first of March in 

 each year. 



