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The Modern Geography is a work of classical merit. It is, we believe, the best work of the kind that has, hitherto, appeared, in the English language. We cannot, therefore, but regret, that the limits of this Journal do not admit of our laying before the reader, something like an analysis of it. We are obliged to confine ourselves to a very few observations, relative to the American edition.

This edition is printed in a much more convenient form than the London edition (which is in two volumes, quarto), and is furnished at a much more moderate price. It is, also, enriched with a number of maps, of which the original edition is destitute. That part of the work, which relates to the new world, is somewhat enlarged, and is, in many respects, very materially altered. Whether it is materially improved or amended, it belongs not to the Editor of this Journal to assert. He can, however,

very sincerely say, that he has laboured to remove some of the errors of the original work, though he is not certain, that he has always succeeded in his endeavours. In particular, it is not improbable, that Mr. Pinkerton may suppose, that his own theory, relative to the origin of the numerous tribes and nations who have spread themselves through the two Americas, is much better founded, than the theory which the Editor of this Journal has thought proper to adopt. This is a question of great curiosity, which we would not be unwilling to discuss at greater length, in an amicable manner, with the ingenious author of the Geography.

We beg leave, in this place, to introduce the following Note, relative to the article America, as it appears in the Philadelphia edition.

66 NOTE, CONCERNING THE ARTICLE AMERICA.

"The article America, in Mr. Pinkerton's excellent system of Modern Geography, having been found, in many respects, extremely defective and erroneous, it was deemed proper by the Editors of the Philadelphia edition, to endeavour to render that article more worthy of the public notice. I was induced to undertake the task, not sufficiently aware, at the time, of the difficulties with which it was attended.

"In accomplishing this task, I have had different objects in view; to correct some of the errors into which the learned author has fallen; to supply some of his desiderata; and sometimes to temper the seve rity of his strictures.

In

"I hope it will be found, that not a few of the errors in the original article have been corrected. many instances, these errors relate to subjects of great moment in the view of America, and especially of the United-States, and other parts of North-America: in others, they are of minor consequence.

"Not a few of the desiderata have been supplied, and some of them, I flatter myself, have been supplied in a very able manner: those I mean which have been communicated to me, viz. the articles,

LAW, MANUFACTURES, and COMMERCE. For these articles I am indebted to the kindness of two gentlemen, whose talents, and intimate acquaintance with the subjects which they treat, will readily be acknowledged. The article Law was drawn up by Alexander J. Dallas, Esq., those relative to manufactures and commerce by Tench Coxe, Esq.

"For all the other additions, alterations, and corrections, I am myself responsible. Many of these additions, &c., have been introduced into the body of the page, whilst others are thrown into the form of These last are marked with the initial of my

notes. name.

"It may, perhaps, seem decorous to apologize to Mr. Pinkerton, for the liberty which I have, in many instances, taken with his statements of facts, and with his speculative opinions upon a variety of subjects: my apology is briefly this; it was intended to render the work more correct and just; the task was confided in me; and, as an American, I had it more in my power than the learned author could have had, to procure authentic documents, or a more extensive body of facts. It was originally my intention to have introduced, in the shape of notes, all the points of difference between Mr. Pinkerton and myself, but I found it necessary to relinquish this design, as the work would have been too much swelled with an expensive body of notes.

"To the public it certainly becomes me to apologize for the errors into which I myself may have fallen, or for those in the original work which I have left uncorrected. The subjects on which I have treated are extremely numerous, and the difficulties attending their right discussion by no means few. Every Editor of such a work will fall into errors; all that, perhaps, can be expected is, that the new work will be more perfect than the original. I have not, intentionally, wounded the feelings of any portion of my countrymen, but I have been obliged to glance at some of the peculiarities of their character. This I have done with much less severity than Mr. Pinkerton has done.

"BENJAMIN SMITH BARTON.

"Philadelphia, April 7th, 1804."

END OF VOLUME I.

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