PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. 



The publisher is happy to announce to the patrons of this 

 work that its prospects for the coming year are now very flatter- 

 ing. It will be perceived from the title page that he has been so 

 fortunate as to secure the editorial services of a gentleman 

 than whom no American author in several departments of 

 science is better known, both at home and abroad. He 

 considers this fact alone to be a sufficient guaranty for the im- 

 provement and usefulness of the work. 



In addition to this, the publisher would also state that, even 

 with facilities by no means great, and under many unfavorable 

 circumstances, the subscription list has already, during the 

 past year, attained the number of four thousand and more, and 

 has thus placed the continuance and stability of the work be- 

 yond ordinary contingencies. It is believed that there are 

 few instances where a periodical, commenced under like 

 circumstances, has in so short a time established itself so firmly 

 in public estimation, and the publisher cannot but feel an hon- 

 est pride in the success which has crowned his exertions, as 

 well as sincere gratitude to those whose patronage has so ma- 

 terially contributed to that success. The original idea of the 

 work, it is but justice to himself to say, was entirely his 

 own, and though he felt great confidence in its ultimate popu- 

 larity, yet it was with some misgivings that he expended his 

 time, labor and money, in the important and difficult underta- 

 king of its commencement. With no aid except what his 



