The general gazetteer; or, compendious geographical dictionary : containing a description of the empires, kingdoms, states, provinces, cities, towns, forts, seas, harbours, rivers, lakes, mountains, capes, &c. in the known world : with the extent, boundaries, and natural productions of each country; ... / originally compiled by R. Brookes.

  • Brookes, R. (Richard), active 1721-1763.
Date:
1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The general gazetteer; or, compendious geographical dictionary : containing a description of the empires, kingdoms, states, provinces, cities, towns, forts, seas, harbours, rivers, lakes, mountains, capes, &c. in the known world : with the extent, boundaries, and natural productions of each country; ... / originally compiled by R. Brookes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/940 (page 5)
    Ber Meee ER ae OE. vo {in the description of aconsiderable number of the principal empires and countries, the usual division of the regions (in common with all our competitors) was erroneous; the geographical position, bearings, dis. tances, &c. of places, were not laid down with uniform accuracy; nor was the least attention paid to the markets and principal fairs in the se- veral counties of England and Wales. Many mistakes have also arisen from the same words occurring frequently in various parts, with differ- ent spellings, &c. &c. all which deficiences and inaccuracies have, in this edition, been duly attended to and remedied: the whole of this Gazetteer having been lately revised and corrected at avery great ex- pence, and with unremitting attention and assiduity. Somme considerable improvements have likewise been introduced, by adding to the composition of this work, a number of remarkable and_ important places omitted in the late edition. The reader mayalso find much new and interesting information in the numerous additions oc- | casionally made to places already noticed, several of which will be found to be considerably improved, if not written entirely new ; not- withstanding which, the work, although considerably augmented in valuable and authentic nomenclature, is yet not enlarged in size and price. ~ The insertions made, include different topics of designation and de- _ $cription, but chiefly relate to the curiosities of nature and art, na- tural productions, forms of government, military and naval affairs, inland navigations, manufactures, magnificent public buildings, and. -the remains of remarkable antiquities; with several original communi- Cations addressed to the editor, pointing out sources of information and improvement, not often to be met with. my These additions the editor has been enabled to make, by omitting, the latitudes and longitudes of places apparently insignificant,orwhose situations may be easily ascertained by areterenceto other places ge- nerally known; by reducing and narrowing some accounts rather too circumstantial and minute, for an abridgment; .and by expunging se- veral articles of less essential importance, which, though not unworthy of attention, leave little room for others that, on further consideration, ‘appear to be more useful and interesting. aa The editor, however, in stating the progressive improvements by _ which he has added to the stock of knowledge contained in our Geo- Braphical Dictionaries, does not thereby mean to assert, that he has so fully executed his plan, but that he himself can discover some faults and imperfections both in the work and its execution. Much has been done, yet much remains undone, to improve and bring to perfec- tion the arduous task of compiling Gazetteers and Dictionaries. It is only by slow degrees, and long and persevering exertions, continued through several centuries, that this comprehensive subject can be ex- pected to arrive at extensive usefulness; but, fromthe mutability of —_ things, it can never be finally brought to a state of full perfection.