PREFACE. IX 



this work in our and re, according to the so-called Enghsh 

 orthography. 



The many imperfect sentences and positive errors that must 

 inevitably be found in the pages of this, and of the succeeding 

 vohimes, shoukl not be charged in the least to the original 

 authors, but rather to the great difficulties under which the 

 translations have l^een made. These difficulties may be faintly 

 imagined when it is considered that the Russian text has been 

 penned by very many specialists, with styles of composition as 

 various as the subjects on Avhicli they have written, and that 

 the typographical Avork has been done by casemen wdio have no 

 knowledge of the language which they were setting up. The 

 necessity for very rapid work, in order to present these volumes 

 for distribution to the American pubhc during the continuance 

 of the World's Fair at Chicago, has also permitted many errors 

 and inaccuracies, lying in full view, to escape correction. 



AYhile, therefore, begging the indulgence of the reader as 



to details, I can but feel that these volumes as a whole, because 



of the important and authentic information which they contain 



on the several industries of Russia, will be of inestimable value 



to the international trade of Russia and the United States. 



and if so, I shall feel amply rewarded for the labour and time 



spent on this work. 



J. M. Crawford. 



St. Petersburg, June 27, 1693. 



