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GEOGRAPHY is that science which teaches and explains the nature and properties of the earth, as to its figure, place, magnitude, motions, celestial appearances, &c. together with the various lines, real and imaginary, on its surface. Geography is distinguished from Cosmography, as a part from the whole; this latter considering the whole visible world, both heaven and earth. From Topography and Chorography it is distinguished, as the whole from a part; topography comprehending a description of particular places, while chorography discusses particular regions.

1. According to the different objects it embraces, geogra phy is divided into mathematical, physical, and political, Mathematical geography has for its object the earth, considered as a mensurable body: it is the province of physical geography to examine the natural or physical constitution of the earth; while political geography displays the various divisions of the earth, made by man, into countries, states, and provinces. This science is further distinguished, with respect to the periods it comprises, into antient geography, that of the middle ages, and modern geography.

2. Antient Geography describes the old world, the antient state of the earth, and the political divisions which have subsisted therein, from the most remote periods until the subversion of the Roman empire in the west. Of the writings of the antient geographers, a few only have been transmitted to the present time: the principal of these are, Strabo, Ptolemy, Pomponius Mela, and Stephanus Byzan tinus. Among the moderns, who have illustrated antient geography in general, are Cluverius, Cellarius, D'Anville, Gosselin, and Major Rennell, whose researches have shed a torrent of light on the geography of the classic historians.

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indigested matter, flat and insipid, and will neither profit nor delight in reading; it is time and place that give life as well as beauty..

6. Nothing, perhaps, is more delightful or instructive to the young mind than the reading of select voyages and travels; but nothing more prejudicial than an indiscrimi nate perusal of them.* Voyages and travels form a most entertaining and important branch of study, whether we consider them as comprehending a description of foreign countries; as displaying the wonders of nature in remote regions;-as tracing the intellectual character, and marking the variation of customs and the shades of national manners;—as describing the productions of art, and comparing the progressive improvements of mankind, or as delineating the physical characters of the habitable globe, and displaying the various states of civilization and barbarism. These are among the pleasing benefits which belong to the perusal of the works of travellers. We gather all their fruit, and incur none of their hazard: we feast upon the viands which they prepare, but know only, in description, the perils they have encountered in procuring them. This happy and peculiar privilege has been thus poetically dwelt upon by Cowper:

He travels and expatiates, as the bee

From flow'r to flow'r, so he from land to land;
The manners, customs, policy of all,

Pay contribution to the store he gleans;
He sucks intelligence in every clime,
And spreads the honey of his deep research,
At his return-a rich repast for me.
He travels, and I too. I tread his deck,
Ascend his topmast, through his peering eyes
Discover countries, with a kindred heart
Suffer his woes, and share in his escapes;
While fancy, like the finger of a clock,

T Runs the great circuit, and is still at home.

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CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DEFINITIONS. IN order to represent the surface of the earth, we make use of a machine, (which is called an artificial globe,) and

The reader will find full, but select, lists of voyages and travels at the conclusion of the next chapter, and at the end of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America,

of engraven charts or maps; on both of which are exhibited the boundaries, divisions, rivers, &c. of the countries thereon delineated.

Those charts which represent the whole of our earth, are called maps of the world. Such, as delineate either one of the four quarters of the world or entire states, are denominated general maps: while those which exhibit a province, department, or country in any particular state, are termed chorographical maps. Such as delineate waters, or any part of the sea, for instance, are called hydrographic charts.

It may be observed that, in maps, the north is usually at the top, the east on the right hand of the student, the west at his left, and the south at the bottom of the map.

The different points of the horizon, whence the wind blows, are denominated points of the compass. Of these there are thirty-two: the principal, or four cardinal points, are, the north, east, south, and west; between these are the north-east, south-east, north-west, and south-west.

The surface of the terrestrial globe is divided into continents, islands, peninsulas, capes, mountains, &c. The wa ters are divided into different seas, gulfs, lakes, rivers, &c. A continent is a large portion of land, comprising several regions, countries, or states: it is also called terra firma. There are two vast continents, the old, which is still called the old world, and the new, styled the new world: the former includes Europe, Asia, and Africa ;-the latter contains America. The continent, least known to us, lies to the south-east of Asia, and is designated Australasia, (i. e. the southern lands:) it is more frequently known by the name of New Holland.

Islands are portions of land entirely surrounded by water; such, for instance, are Great Britain, Ireland, &c. Peninsulas are portions of continent, projecting into the sea, and surrounded on three sides by the ocean. Such is Africa, the An neck of land between two seas, and which unites more considerable countries together. Such are the isthmus of Suez, which connects Africa and Asia, and that of Darien, which unites North and South America. Coasts are those parts of the land, which are contiguous to, or washed by the sea. A promontory is an elevated point

isthmus is a narrow Peninsula in the known world.

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