B DISTRICT OF NEW-YORK, SS, E IT REMEMBERED, That on the Twenty-Fifth Day of November, in the Thirty-Third Year of the Independence of the United States of America, EZRA SAMPSON, of the said District, hath depos sited in this Office, the Title of a Book, the Right whereof he claims as Author, in the words following, to wit i.... "The Youth's Companion, or an Historical Diction "ary consisting of articles selected chiefly from Na"tural and Civil History, Geography, Astronomy, Zo"ology, Botany and Mineralogy, arranged in alphabet❝ical order. By EZRA SAMPSON, author of the selec "tion, entitled "Beauties of the Bible." ....In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled " An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the Times therein mentioned,” and also to an Act entitled " An Act supplementary to an Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the Times therein mentioned, and extending the Benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving, and Etching Historical and other Prints." EDWARD DUNSCOMB, Clerk of the District of New-York. Prefatory Hemarks. ANY renters of this book who can find lit tle or nothing in it but what they knew as well before, are respectfully informed that it is not meant for them, but for people whose advantages have been fewer, or whose knowledge is loss extensive. It is designed more particularly as a Companion for Youth; yet so us not to be a useless companion for mature age. Much in a small compass, has been my aim; and as I have generally named the authors to whom I am indebted, so the reader will know to whose writings he may have recourse for a more enlarged view of some of the subjects which are here given in miniature. AMONG the Geographical articles many places are mentioned for the sake of relating some historical facts comected with them; while other piaces of much more importance have been unnoticed. The articles on Astronomy are derived from respectable authorities: they can hardly fail to excite in the mind of the reader, some ideas of the astonishing power and wisdom of the Creator. Many particulars in this compilation are on the subjects of Zoology and Botany: the study of these sciences is both useful and delightful, and is recommended by the example of Solomon, who "spake of trees, from the cedar tree that was in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall; and spake also of beasts, and of fowls, and of creeping things, and of fishAs a knowledge of the history of animals, and of plants or vegetables, conduces to human safety, conve PREFATORY REMARKS. nience and sustenance, so it tends also to improve and exalt the moral sentiment; forasmuch as the workmanship displayed in the structure of the meanest animal that breathes, or even of the most unregarded vegetable that grows, infinitely surpasses all the works of men. A multitude of things which are here related or described, as they point directly to a superintending power and all-wise contrivance, might be used as subjects for moral and religious reflections; such reflections, being obvious and easy, I have generally left to be made by the reader. If this, however, should be thought by some serious and good minds to be a culpable omission, I might plead the example of the Sacred Historians, who briefly recorded facts involving most important moral princi ples, and left them without comment. I have endeavoured to weave into this work, various traits of the human character; insomuch, that besides numerous sketches of the history of man in civilized societies, it describes, though with the utmost brevity, a greater number of savage tribes, particularly of America and the islands of the Pacific Ocean, than can easily be found described in any other book of an equal size. It was found necessary to reject a considerable number of articles which were prepared for this book, lest it should exceed the intended.bounds; and per haps, for want of a more correct judgment, some of the discarded class may be better than some which have been admitted. But though I may have erred in judg ment, I have not been sparing of my best endeavours; the fruits of which are offered to the public, not without diffidence, nor yet without hope. |