A compendious and complete system of Modern Geography. Or a view of the present state of the World. Being a faithful abridgement of the American Universal Geography (edition of 1812,) with corrections and additions. ... Illustrated by a representation of the Solar System, and six maps of the...

Front matter

THE American Universal Geography ; OR, A VIEW OF TIIE PRESENT STATE OF ALL THE KINGDOMS, STATES, AND COLONIES IN THE KNOWN WORLD. IN flVO VOLUMES. THE TIRST VOLUME scription of the remaining American islands. Contains a copious Introduction, adapt-! ed to the present improved state of Astronomical Science — a* brief Geog. j raphy ofthe Earth — a general descrip-1 tion of America — an account of North- America, and its various Divisions, particularly of ihe United States — h general account of the West-Indies, and of the four groupes of islands into which they are naturally divided, and a minute account of the several islands. — a general description of S. America,' and a particular account of its various States and Provinces — and a brief de-' THE SECOND VOLUME ;Contains the Geography ofthe Eastern Continent — a general description of 'Europe, and a minute account of its various Kingdoms and Stales — a general description of Asia, its Kingdoms. provinces and islands — an account of .the numerous islands arranged by modern geographer? under the names of Australasiaand Polynesia — a general description of Afric?, and a particular account of ils various States aiyl Islands.

THE WHOLE COMPREHENDING A COMPLETE %ymvH of d5eograpt)g. ACCOMPANIED BY A General Atlas of the World, CONTAINING SIXTY-THREE MAPS; BY AKROWSMITH AND LEWIS. BY JEDIDIAH MORSE. D-D. Minister of the Congregational Church in Cliarlcstou'i- Seventh Edition. VOLUME I CHARLESTOWN : UBLlSHED BV LINCOLN & EDMANDS, S. T. ARMSTRONG, WEST, RICHARDSON & LORD, BOSTON 5 G. CLARKE, CHARLESTOWN; 3 WOOD & SONS, COLLINS & HANNAY, AND J. EAS IBURN, & CO. NEW-YORK ; WEBSTERS AND SKINNERS, ALBANY J SEWARD & WILLIAMS, UTICA ; M. CAREY & SON, AND W. W. WOODWARD, PHILADELPHIA; CUSHING & JEWETT, AND F. LUCAS, BALTI- "fORE J AND S, C. & J. SCHENCK, SAVANNAH. S. Etheridge, Printer, 1819. DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, to wit : District Clerk's Office. T$E IT REMEMBERED, that on the twenty third day of April, A.D. 181£, and in the thirty-sixth year of the independence of the United Slates of Amer ica, Thomas and Andrews, ofthe said District, have deposited in this office the title of :* book, the right whereof they claim, as propiietors, in the words fol lowing, to wit ; " The \merican Universal Geography, or a view ofthe present state of all the kingdoms, states, and colonies in the known world.

In two volumes. The first volume contains a copious introduction adapted to the present improved state of astronomical science — a brief geography ot tbe earth — a general de scription of America — an account of North America, and its various divisions, particularly ofthe United States — a general account ofthe West-Indies, and of the four groupes of islands into which they are i.aturally divided, and a minute account of the several islands — a general description of South America, and a particular account of its various states and provinces, and a brief description of the remaining American islands The second volume contains the geography of the Eastern Continent— a general description of Europe, and a minute account of its various kingdoms and states — a general description of Asia, its kingdoms, provinces, and islands — au account of the numerous islands arranged by modern geographers under the names of Australasia and Polynesia — a general descrip tion of Africa, and a particular account of its various states and islands To which are added, an abridgment ofthe last census of the United States — a chro nological table of remarkable events from the creation to this time — an improved list of ancient and modern learned and eminent men— and a copious index to the whole work.

Preface

. PpHE first edition of this work was published in 1789, in an oc- ■*■ tavo volume of 534 pages. It was chiefly confined to a des cription of America, and called The American Geography. In 1793 the Work was enlarged to 1250 pages, and published in two volumes, Svo. under the title of Tub American Universal Ge-graphy ; as it professedly embraced a description ofthe whole world. Three years after it received a new and hrge im pression, with very considerable improvements, and was increased in size to 1500 pages. A fourth edition appeared in 1801 and 1802, which, though but little enlarged, was enriched with much new information, inserted in place of obsolete or less important matter, omitted or abridged. In these successive editions there was a gradual increase in the number of maps. In this department, however, owing to the im perfection of American maps, and the want of experienced artists, the author was never able to succeed in a degree equal to his wishes.

In 1805 a fifth edition was published ; when the second volume, particularly, received important alterations and improvements. This edition was accompanied with " anew and elegant general atlas, containing sixty-three maps drawn by Arrowsmith and Lewis." The sixth edition published in 1812, was so greatly altered, both as to matter and plan, in i onsequence of the great changes, which had then taken place in the world, and the flood of information, which had been poured upon us, that the author thought it ex pedient to alter the title of his work, and to obtain a new copy right. Information of these alterations may be found in the pre face to this edition. The present edition has been very carefully revised. Many things, which the recent wonderful changes in the state of the world had rendered incorrect and useless, have been omitted to give room for the abundant new matter furnished by the numerous publications produced in these eventful times.

A thorough and very laborious revision of Europe has been made ; its civil divisions, as settled by the treaty of Vienna, of 1815, noted and de scribed, and its whole arrangement altered so as to accord with the present peace establishment. Under the several divisions of Asia, much that is new will be found, and the recent changes in their boundaries, and in other re spects, noted, as far as our information exi ended. Africa, in consequence of the many new and important discoveries, which have lately been made in almost all parts of it, has undergone an entire change in the arrangement of its divisions,

PREFACE.

. 8 and in most cases a new description, or nearly so, of these divisions has been given. The progress of discovery in no part of the world, within the last ten years, has been so great as in this. In South-America, the valuable and authentic documents fur nished to our government by their Commissioners, sent to visit this quarter of the world ; also Mawe's description of Brazil, have been faithfully and patiently examined, and their substance incor porated into this work. The accounts of the Russtan, Danish, and British Domin ions in North-America, that of the latter especially, have under gone a thorough revision, and very considerable and valuable ad ditions have been made to them. Such notice of the late northern expeditions for discovery has been taken, as the information at the time furnished.

But the greatest improvements have been made in our own country, the United States. Under this head, the new boundaries, according to the late treaty with Spain, are given ; the new States and Territories are named and described ; and the progress of things generally — the various improvements in agriculture, arts, science, literature and religion exhibited, giving a view ofall such things, as pertain to geography, down to the present time. It has been a particular object of the author in the revision of his whole work, in this age of Missions, to point out, and de scribe the various missionary stations in the different quarters of the world, for the gratification ofthe Christian community. In making the present revision of this work, the parts of it es pecially which have required the greatest share of labor and re search, in accordance with the course pursued in former editions, the author has received the assistance of his son, Sidney Edwards Mouse, A. M. ; and, in other parts, the labors of others, at very considerable expense, to avoid undue interference with the primary duties ofhis sacred office, in a large and respectable parish.

The work has been considerably enlarged, and the price of it, of necessity increased. The new authors consulted in the revision ot the work for the present edition, are generally named in the places where their ii. formation is introduced. The Atlas at present accompanying this work will continue to receive improvements, as the materials lor the purpose shall come into existence. Of the diligence and fidelity of the author, in executing the whole work, he is willing that public should judge, for whose in formation he has, during a course of thirty-five years, bestowed so considerable a portion of his labors, and whose approbation and liberal patronage he has hitherto gratefully received Charlestown, Sept. 1, 1819. AMERICAN UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHY.