The Lives of Celebrated Travellers, Vol. I.
1
FAMILY LIBRARY.
The publishers of the Family Library, anxious to obtainand to deserve the favourable opinion of the public, withpleasure embrace the present opportunity to express theirwarm and sincere thanks for the liberal patronage which hasbeen bestowed upon their undertaking, and their determinationto do all that lies in their power to merit its continuance.For some time previous to the commencement of theFamily Library, they had entertained thoughts and wishesof reducing the quantity of merely fictitious writings, whichthe reading public had made it their interest to issue fromtheir press; and they were conscious that this could onlybe done by substituting for them works that should be equallyentertaining and more instructive. The difficulty was tofind an adequate supply of books possessing these requisites.At this time the attention of English philanthropists andauthors was strongly turned to the general dissemination ofuseful knowledge by means of popular abridgments, convenientin form, afforded at low prices, and as much as possiblesimplified in style, so as to be accessible as well to themeans as to the comprehension of “the people,” in contradistinctionto the educated and the wealthy. The result hasbeen the production of numerous collections, embracing wellwritten works treating of almost every department of art andscience, and, by their simplicity, clearness, and entire freedomfrom technicality, exactly calculated to attract and compensatethe attention of the general reader. From these collections,with additions and improvements, and such alterationsas were necessary to adapt the work to the taste and wantsof the American public, Harper’s Family Library hasbeen composed; and it is with pride and pleasure that thepublishers acknowledge the distinguished favour with whichit has been received. The approbation and support thathave already been bestowed upon it are greater than haveever been conferred upon any work of a similar characterpublished in the United States; and the sale of every succeedingvolume still demonstrates its continually increasingpopularity. In several instances gentlemen of wealth andof excellent judgment have been so much pleased with thecharacter of the Library, that they have purchased numbersof complete sets as appropriate and valuable gifts to thefamilies of their less opulent relatives; and others have2unsolicited, been active in their endeavours to extend itscirculation among their friends and acquaintances. Withthese strong inducements to persevere, the publishers areresolved to prosecute their undertaking with additional zeal,energy, and circumspection. What has been done theydesire their patrons to consider rather in the light of an experiment,than a specimen of what they hope and intend toaccomplish: they freely and gratefully acknowledge thatthe circulation and popularity of the Family Library are nowsuch as to justify them in disregarding expense, and todemand from them every care and every exertion. It shallbe their study to make such arrangements as shall warrantthem in assuring the friends and patrons of the Library thatthe forthcoming volumes, instead of decreasing in interestand value, will be found still more deserving of the supportand app