2244 Physical Atlas. 



Berghaus has had facilities for the accnrate and extensive execution of the under- 

 taking beyond what any other individual could be expected to possess. Geography 

 forms a part of the course of education to all persons preparing for public service in 

 Prussia ; and with that sedulous attention to the cultivation of physical philosophy, 

 which characterizes the German mind, the whole of the military force and mercantile 

 marine of the Prussian Government are expected to report minutely on the geographi- 

 cal condition of every country which they visit ; and from his position as Principal of 

 the National Geographical Institute, the most valuable reports and surveys have been 

 made under the special direction of Professor Berghaus, and with reference to the 

 completion of his arduous task. 



** In the ' National Atlas,' Mr. Johnston presented the British public with some 

 specimens of this meritorious work, which had the effect of eliciting earnest requests 

 from members of the Geographical Society, and other learned bodies, to publish an 

 English edition of the whole ; and in compliance with their wishes, this important 

 publication is now about to be commenced. The documents, which will be found in 

 another part of this prospectus, will evince the interest excited by the work, as well as 

 authoritatively indicate the superior manner in which the present edition will be pro- 

 duced. 



" A liberal selection from the designs and copious MS. and letter-press descriptions 

 of Professor Berghaus will constitute the basis of the new Atlas — a copyright arrange- 

 ment having been made with him for the purpose ; but instead of being a reprint from 

 the original plates, the Maps will not only be larger in size, and more complete, but 

 will contain the latest corrections from his own hand ; and in addition to this, Maps 

 on subjects not treated of by Professor Berghaus will be constructed by Mr. Johnston, 

 under the superintendence of competent writers, in order that the whole may be in 

 unison with the state of science in Britain up to the period of publication. 



" No theories founded on mere hypothesis will be introduced. All the Maps, so 

 far as can be ascertained, will embody the results of actual observation and experiment. 

 Indeed, the plan of linear delineation provides, to some extent, a guarantee against 

 crude speculation, as it compels all systems to assume a definite shape, readily suscep- 

 tible of direct examination as separate truths, or relatively, as they are in consonance 

 with cosraical laws universally admitted. There will, however, be introduced on all 

 suitable occasions, such inductive data as seem to point at the solution of unexplained 

 phenomena — a course which, it is presumed, is not beyond the proper sphere of the 

 work, and which may not be unattended with advantage to scientific inquiry. 



" But the predominating rule, both in the selection and treatment of subjects, will 

 be utility, in the widest sense of the term. The projectors do not wish to deal with 

 science for abstract purposes ; they wish to deal with it as developing the resources of 

 Nature, and as guiding art in adapting these to the exigencies of Man. They, there- 

 fore, solicit attention to this Atlas, as a repertory of ascertained facts and principles, 

 bearing directly on many of the most important departments of human occupation. 

 To the political economist, man of letters, merchant, manufacturer, navigator, and 

 tradesman, the work will be of great practical advantage ; while to the professor and 

 teacher it cannot fail to be of inestimable service, in materially facilitating the im- 

 portant business of education." Edward Newman. 



