HILLIARD, GRAY, AND CO.; CARTER AND HENDEE; AN AND HOLBROOK. - NEW YORK, G. AND C. AND H May 1913 DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT. DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE. t remembered, that on the eleventh day of November, A. D. 1830, in the f ear of the Independence of the United States of America, Gray & Bowen, of strict, have deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof 1 as proprietors, in the words following, to wit:-"The American Almanac and y of Useful Knowledge, for the Year 1831." In conformity to the act of the ( of the United States, entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning ng the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of during the times therein mentioned"; and also to an act, entitled "An mentary to an act, entitled, 'An act for the encouragement of learning, by secu Dies of maps, charts, and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, du mes therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of design ing, and etching historical and other prints." JNO. W. DAVIS, Clerk of the District of Massachusett CAMBRIDGE: NTED BY E. W. METCALF AND COMPANY, PREFACE. "THE main object of this work," as was stated in the first volume, "is utility." The Conductors engaged in the design under the impression that such a work was wanted by a numerous class in the community, and that, if well executed, it would meet with a good degree of success; and they have been gratified by the manner in which their attempt has been received. In this volume the general character and design of the work remain unaltered; though the plan has been, in some particulars, changed. The first volume was divided into five parts; but the contents of this, though embracing as great a variety of subjects, have been formed into two general divisions, the First Part comprising the topics corresponding to those of the first two parts of the former volume, and the Second Part, the topics corresponding to those of the other three parts. For explanations respecting the astronomical department, the reader is referred to the Preliminary Observations of Mr. Paine, who has executed this portion with great labor and ability. The large space occupied by the numerous and interesting details relating to the great eclipse of the 12th of February, has rendered it necessary to postpone several articles corresponding to those of the second part of the first volume. The Second Part of the present volume is particularly characized by containing a view of the general and state governments, the constitution of the United States, the executive government, the national legislature and judiciary, outlines of the constitutions of the several states, and complete lists of their governors from the first organization of the respective governments. This information is of permanent value, and will be useful, for reference, at any future period; but that portion of it which is unchangeable, having now been inserted in this volume, will not need to be repeated in the volumes which may follow. The plan adopted with respect to the articles relating to the several states has left less space than could be wished for the notice of foreign countries; and although the information given respecting them will probably not be deemed an unimportant part of |