TO READERS. 



The proprietors of the Family Library avail themselves 

 of the opportunity afforded them, by the publication of one 

 of the most valuable works of the whole series, to solicit the 

 attention of the public to the great and manifold advantages 

 this collection offers to the friends of science and literature 

 throughout the country. Of the merits of the various books 

 that compose the Family Library, its popularity and the 

 encouragement its publishers have received fumish the best 

 evidence. It is believed, that a series embracing so much 

 excellence of material, with so great convenience of form 

 and size, and by its moderate 'price so generally within the 

 means of almost every individual, has never been presented 

 to the notice of the public in this or any other country. The 

 Library has already been extended to forty-nine numbers, 

 containing an immense variety of accurate and valuable 

 information, much of which cannot be obtained in any other 

 form without considerable difficulty, and at an expense far 

 exceeding the price of these volumes. No pains have been 

 spared in procuring materials ; and the publishers have the 

 satisfaction of believing that their Library stands unrivalled, 

 both in the selection of subjects and the learning and ability 

 with which those subjects have been treated. 



Several valuable and interesting historical works are 

 now in preparation for the Family Library ; which, with 

 those already embraced in it, will form a complete historical 

 series. The continuance of public patronage in its favour 

 is solicited only so long as it shall remain the cheapest and 

 the BEST. 



THE PUBLISHERS. 



