Q. What are the advantages attending the study of Geography? A. Geography is a science highly entertaining and important. It opens to our view much of the wisdom and goodness of the Creator, in making various and bountiful provision for his creatures, in appointing them their residence in different parts of the globe, and suiting their capacities to their respective circumstances. It teaches us that mankind are one great family, though different in their complexions, situations and habits. It promotes social intercourse and mutual happiness. Q. Is Geography a science capable of improvement? A. It has been greatly improved, especially of late years, by the discoveries and observations of voyagers and travellers, and is capable of much greater improvement by the same means. Q. What ideas had the ancients of Geography? A. The Phoenicians and Carthagenians knew more of it than any other nation, but they kept their knowledge concealed, through mercantile jealousy. The Greeks and Romans knew less, but were more communicative. Several of their philosophers wrote on the subject, and their works are still preserved. Q. To how great a part of the globe did their knowledge extend? A. They were well acquainted with the temperate regions of Europe and Asia, and the northern parts of Africa, and they had some knowledge of India. Q. What false opinions had they of the globe? A. They imagined the torrid and the frigid zones to be uninhabitable, and that it was impossible to pass from one of the temperate zones to the other. Q. What was the state of navigation among them? A. Their vessels were small and without decks ;-they were fit only for coasting voyages in temperate climates and favourable seasons, and were generally laid up at the approach of winter. They never ventured far out of sight of land, because in cloudy weather they had nothing by which they 210 Of the Advantages and Improvements of Geography. could direct their course, though in clear weather they could steer by the sun or stars. Q. By what means was navigation improved? A. By the discovery of the magnetic needle, or the power of the magnet in pointing to the poles of the earth. Q. When was this discovery made? A. It was first known in Europe in the 13th century; but the Chinese claim the honor of a prior discovery. Q. What were the consequences of this discovery? A. It gave the mariner courage to venture farther into the ocean, and make longer voyages, by which means new islands were discovered. Q. What was the boldest adventure of this kind? A. The discovery of America by Columbus in the fifteenth century. Q. When was the first circumnavigation of the globe performed? A. In the sixteenth century, about thirty years after the discovery of America. It was undertaken by Ferdinanda Magellan, who died on the passage, but the ship returned to Europe. Q. Who was the first English circumnavigator? A. Sir Francis Drake, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Q. Who was the most remarkable of all the circumnavi. gators? A. Capt. James Cook, who, after having passed round the globe twice and discovered the eternal boundaries of navigation towards the north and south poles, was killed when on his third voyage, by the natives of Owhyhee, in 1779. Q. Have circumnavigatory voyages been more frequent since his death? A. Yes, they are much more frequent, and are grown familiar to seamen. Q. For what reasons? A. Partly by reason of the lucrative trade between the northwest coast of America and China, which his last voyage opened, and partly because methods were successfully practised by him to preserve the lives and health of seamen, which were not in use before. Newfoundland, 154 South-Carolina, 186 123 Spain, 59 155 Spanish America, 192 New-Granada, or Terra Firma, 200| Spanish Empire, 58 New-Hampshire, New-Holland, New-Jersey, 160 Spanish Islands, 61 New-York, New-Zealand, North-America, North-Carolina, Norway, 14 Tartary, Chinese .85 Nova-Scotia, 154 Tartary, Independent 82 Nubia, 135 Tennessee, 185 Oases of the Great Desert, 144 Tibet, 87 Ohio, 174 Tripoli, including Barca, 132 Papua, or New-Guinea, 122 Tongquin, 96 Parma, duchy of Patagonia, 68 Tunis, 131 207 Turkey in Asia, 76 Pelew Islands, Pennsylvania, Persia, 124 Turkish Empire, 71 172 Turkey in Europe, ib. 112 Turkish Islands, 74 Peru, 202 Tuscany, grand duchy of 68 Polynesia, 124 156 Porto Rico, 199 Upper Canada, 153 Portuguese Empire, Van Dieman's Land, 122 Potugal, 201 Prussia, 162 Rhode-Island, 165 Virginia, 181 Russian America, 149 37 Russia in Asia, Wertemberg, kingdom of 46 196 FINIS. For Sale at Websters and Skinners' Bookstore, Albany, The Youth's Companion, OR AN HISTORICAL DICTIONARY; Consisting of Articles selected chiefly from Natural and Civil History, Geography, Astronomy, Zoology, Botany and Mineralogy; arranged in Alphabetical order. By EZRA SAMPSON, author of the selection, entitled "Beauties of the Bible.". From the Hudson edition, with sundry emendations, retrenchments, and enlargements. Price $1. Reccommendations of the Work. The Rev. DAVID PORTER, D. D. of Catskill, has favored us with his opinion, as follows: "I have examined the Historical Dictionary with some care, and think it contains as rich a compendium of facts, concisely and elegantly expressed, as any work of its size within the compass of my knowledge. It is a book, in my opinion, admirably adapted to youth; and such is its real merit that I am convinced that it needs only to be known to entitle it to the universal patronage of schools and academies throughout our country. "The book contains an epitome of science, chaste, moral and beautifully descriptive; and it cannot fail both to entertain and instruct. DAVID PORTER." The Rev. JOHN CHESTER, of Hudson, transmits to us the following remarks : "The Historical Dictionary,' in the opinion of the subscriber, is a most important and valuable acquisition to the schools of our country. Its learned and judicious author has manifested uncommon discrimination and ability in his work. The Dictionary is extremely interesting and instructive to the scholar, who, as he learns to read, stores his mind with facts which are always useful. It is a kind of Text Book, the usefulness of which outlives the period of pupilage, and may be retained with advantage among the number of those works which will always amuse and instruct the person of mature age. It is, in my opinion, one of the best school books with which I am acquainted, and has a fair claim to esteem and patronage. JOHN CHESTER." Mr. ASHBEL STRONG, well known for many years as an instructor in several academies in this state, and who has had the best opportunity of becoming acquainted with the merits of this book, has favored us with his remarks: Sampson's Historical Dictionary is, in my opinion, one of the best school books ever published. It contains in the compass of a |