THE

BOOK OF THE WORLD:

BEING AN ACCOUNT OF ALL

REPUBLICS, EMPIRES, KINGDOMS,

AND NATIONS,

IN REFERENCE TO THEIR

GEOGRAPHY, STATISTICS, COMMERCE, &c.

TOGETHER WITH A

BRIEF HISTORICAL OUTLINE

OF THEIR

RISE, PROGRESS, AND PRESENT CONDITION,

ETC. ETC. ETC.

BY

RICHARD S. FISHER, M.D.

THIRD EDITION, CORRECTED BY THE CENSUS RETURNS OF 1851-2.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

ILLUSTRATED WITH MAPS AND CHARTS.

LONDON: IMPORTED BY SAMPSON LOW, SON, AND CO.
British and American Publishers and Booksellers,

47, LUDGATE HILL.

1853.

THE volumes herewith presented to the public, are intended to supply a standard of general reference, and a source to which the merchant and scholar may look for the most recent and best authenticated account of the world, in its several parts. The compiler has drawn information largely from the publications of late travellers and writers; much, also, has been derived from correspondence with the Ministers and Consuls of foreign nations, resident in this country.

With regard to that portion of the work relating to the United States, resort has been had to the State surveys, the periodical censuses, the official reports of the bureaux at Washington, and the returns of the several State Governments; while much new information has been collected at great cost and trouble. Every resource, indeed, has been taxed for authentic materials; and it is believed that the work will be found essentially complete in all its parts, geographical, statistical and social.

New-York, May 1st, 1849.

SECOND EDITION.

In this edition will be found such additions and alterations as the progress of events to the end of the year 1849 has rendered necessary; and a thorough revision of the whole work has been made by the author. A copious Index has also been added. With these improvements, the publisher believes these volumes to be perfect in every particular, and, as such, he with confidence presents them to the world.

New-York, February 1st, 1850.

NEW EDITION.

In this edition will be found many and essential improvements. The American portion of the work has been entirely re-written, and the results of the recent census incorporated, with notices of all changes in the Constitutions of States, the latest statistics respecting education, churches, banks and other interests, and all the discoveries and developments of resources in the countries severally described. It is, in fact, a new work, and in every respect. is applicable to the condition of the world at the present day.

New York, July 1, 1852.