name of a Persian province, are given under different heads, as designating two distinct territories. It happens, also― probably in consequence of a discrepancy in the works from which the compilation was made that the boundaries, as well as the latitude and longitude, are laid down differently, so that it is impossible that any one should know, without referring to some other work, that Schirvan and Shirvan, are properly one and the same name. It will be seen, from the fifteenth section of our Introduction, that the plan which we have pursued, precludes the possibility of any mistakes of this kind, at the same time that it furnishes an easy clue to the labyrinth of perplexity, into which the various modes of writing the same geographical names, must, of necessity, lead the inexperienced reader. With regard to the descriptive, statistical and historical portions of this gazetteer, it may be remarked, that we have endeavoured to consult, on every subject, the best authorities with which we are acquainted. We have aimed to make, as far as practicable, Balbi's celebrated Abrégé de Géographie (last edition-1842,) a production of unequalled merit, the basis of our work. We have, also, drawn largely from the geographical department of the Penny Cyclopædia, which, at least, so far as regards the correctness of the information it conveys, is unquestionably the best work on geography in the English language. McCulloch's New Geographical Diconary, Malte Brun's Geography, and the Edinburgh Gazetteer, have likewise been extensively consulted. In a work so limited as the present, when so much must be omitted, and so little, comparatively speaking, could be inserted, it has been a point of the highest importance to make a judicious selection of matter. Without claiming to have made such a selection, we may, as an act of justice to ourselves, affirm, that it has been our sincere endeavour, to comprise the greatest possible amount of useful information in a small compass; and should it appear that some important subjects are omitted, while to others of less consequence, a place has been given in our dictionary, we doubt not that the candid reader will bear in mind, that there must always. be some difference of judgment in matters of this kind, and that even among the most intelligent and enlightened, perhaps no two individuals can be found, who will assign to a number of different subjects, the same relative importance. It will be seen that a smaller proportion of names belonging to our own country, is inserted in this work, than is usual in gazetteers published in the United States. We admit that, generally speaking, it is more important to possess information about places in our own country, than those in distant parts of the globe, but as in this instance the great object has been to give the pronunciation of geographical names, it seemed proper, in a book of so limited a compass, to prefer the difficult names of foreign countries, to those of our own which might be readily pronounced without the aid of a dictionary. AUTHORITIES. To the following gentlemen we are chiefly indebted for our information respecting the pronunciation of the names of places in foreign countries, as well as for the general principles of pronunciation of the different foreign languages noticed in our Introduction. Justice, however, requires us to state distinctly, that these gentlemen are in nowise responsible for any errors that may occur in our gazetteer; it being impossible in a work like the present (in which the names of each country are scattered through the entire volume), to avail ourselves of the benefit which might result from their revision. GEORGE R. GLIDDON, ESQ., Dr. A. BournONVILLE, Graduate of the University of Copenhagen. M. FELIX DROuin, Formerly professor of rhetoric in the University of France. Prof. C. MINNIGERODE, Professor of ancient languages in William and J. C. OEHLSCHLÄGER, Professor of modern languages in Philadelphia. G. A. PERDICARIS, ESQ., Formerly United States consul at Athens. C. S. BUXTON, Esq., Many years an officer in the British service in India. L. S. DE BIBORY. JOHN MCINTYRE, ESQ. PIERO MARONCELLI, Professor of Italian in New York. G. C. L. ABATE MINICHINI, Professor of modern languages in Philadelphia. JOHN C. DELPRAT, Esq. JOHN C. ZIMMERMAN, Esq., A. B. ENGSTRÖM, ESQ., JOSIAH HARLAN, ESQ., Nearly twenty years a resident of that country. Formerly professor in St. Paul's College, Long I. HORATIO HALe, Esq., Philologist to the U. States Exploring Expedition. Of the United States Navy. Chevalier J. C. DE FIGANIÈRE E MORÃO, The late MARMADUKE BURROUGH, M. D. Many years a resident in different parts of that FELIX MERINO, Esq., Formerly professor of Spanish in the University of Pennsylvania. RICHARD SELDENER, Esq., WILLIAM B. HODGSON, ESQ., Formerly acting consul at Algiers and lately dragoman or oriental interpreter at Constantinople. For the pronunciation of names of Great Britain and of the various colonies of the British empire, as well as of the anglicized forms of well-known foreign names, and for other important information of a more general character, we cannot forbear to express our great obligations to WILLIAM A. DOBBYN, ESQ., Formerly an officer in the British service The Rev. WILLIAM P. HINDS. WILLIAM PETer, Esq., Her Britannic Majesty's consul for the State of Pennsylvania. We should do injustice to our feelings, did we not express qui warmest thanks to JOHN K. TOWNSEND, Esq., for his valuable inform ation respecting the names of Oregon and of the Indian tribes west of the Mississippi, and other subjects noticed in the Appendix. INTRODUCTION. Ir is proposed, in this portion of our work, to set forth more fully some of the arguments alluded to in the preface, by which the propriety of our system of pronunciation is supported, as well as to explain the particular method in which this system has been carried out, in the dictionary before us. I. It has already been intimated, that not only the present practice of the best speakers, but the usage of our more distinguished poets, is clearly in favour of the system which we have chosen. If any might be allowed to pronounce foreign names without regard to the peculiar sounds of the letters, or to the accents, which prevail in other countries, this privilege might surely be claimed by the poets, who, in the use even of English words, are considered to enjoy a special license. It is very evident, however,-as every one who will take the trouble to examine the works of the better class of them, must admit-that, as a body, they have neither claimed nor used this privilege. On the contrary, our more distinguished poets have usually exhibited a classical—we might almost say a punctilious-accuracy, in the employment of foreign names, whether of places or persons. To illustrate by examples,-GRANADA,* and GENOA,† are pronounced by all the great poets "The Moorish king rides up and down "And GRANADA must be won And thyself with her undone."-BYRON. "GRANADA caught it in her Moorish hall, Galicia bade her children fight or fall."-Scott. "There was crying in GRANADA when the sun was going down,"- "Signior Baptista may remember me Near twenty years ago, in GENOA, where 2 * 10) |