352 Geographi). 



ING, of Germany, may be considered as, on the 

 whole, the most laborious and complete of the 

 age. To these may be added the large and very 

 respectable work of Professor Ebeling on the 

 geography of America,^ and that of Bruns on 

 Africa. 



The elucidations of Ancient Geography, by 

 several modern writers, are highly interesting and 

 valuable, and deserve to be regarded among the 

 signal improvements of the eighteenth century. 

 The service rendered to science in this way by 

 M. D'x^NviLLE, is too well known to require 

 eulogium. The more recent works, of a similar 

 kind, by Gossellin, of France, and by Rennell, 

 of Great-Britain, also do honour to their authors, 

 and to the age. 



In few respects has the last century displayed 

 greater improvement than in the number, accu- 

 racy, and elegance of its Maps. The m.aps of M. 

 Delisle were early and extensively celebrated. 

 Since that time the maps of Cassini,'* D'Anville, 

 La Rochette, Robert, Wells, Sottzman, Ren- 

 NELL, Arrowsmith, and many others, are entitled 

 to honourable distinction . At the beginning of the 

 period under review there was scarcely a map in ex- 

 istence of any part of the American continent, that 

 deserved the name. Since that time almost every 

 known part, and especially the United States, have 

 been dehneated with accuracy and neatness.' The 



g The diligence and success v/ith which Professor Ebeling has labotir- 

 ed to elucidate the Geography and History of the American States, are 

 worthy of the highest praise. There is no doubt that the information 

 which he has collected, and has been for some time engaged in laying be- 

 fore his countrymen, on this subject, though in some respects imperfect 

 and erroneous, as was unavoidable, is yet by far the most accurate and full 

 that was ever given to the public by an European. 



h The map of France, by Cassini, was begun in 1744, and finished in 

 1794, in one hundred and eighty three sheets. This is probably the largest 

 map ever formed by human industry. 



i It was the wish of the author to have given a' list of the best maps of 

 the several American States, which have been formed in the course of the 



