A

GENERAL GAZETTEER;

OR, COMPENDIOUS.

GEOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY.

CONTAINING

A Description

OF THE

NATIONS, EMPIRES, KINGDOMS, STATES, PROVINCES, CITIES, TOWNS
FORTS, SEAS, HARBOURS, RIVERS, LAKES, CANALS,
MOUNTAINS, CAPES, &c.

IN THE

KNOWN WORLD:

WITH THE

EXTENT, BOUNDARIES, and NATURAL PRODUCTIONS of each Country; the
GOVERNMENT, CUSTOMS, MANNERS, and RELIGION of the Inhabitants; the
TRADE, MANUFACTURES, and CURIOSITIES, of the Cities and Towns, with their
LONGITUDE and LATITUDE, BEARING and DISTANCE in English Miles, from
remarkable Places; and the various HISTORICAL EVENTS, by which they have
been distinguished.

FRINTED FOR J. Bumpus, 6, HOLBORN; WM. ALLASON; J. BLACKLOCK; CHAMPANTE
AND WHITROW; C. CHAPPLE; MESS. EVANS AND SON; J. GOODWIN; T. HUGHES;
MESS. LANGLEY AND BELCH; AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS, IN TOWN AND
COUNTRY.

910.3.

8879

ed.15

Plummer and Brewis Printers, Love Lane, Little-Eastcheap.

INTRODUCTION.

THE science of Geography treats of the figure, magnitude, position, and motion of the earth, and of the situation, extent, divisions, subdivisions, and boundaries of the different places upon its surface, to which is usually subjoined an abstract of the religion, history, character, government, manners, commerce, and population of every kingdom.

The Figure and Magnitude of the Earth.

Ir is one of the fundamental principles in Geography, that the earth is of ‹a round form, but this is not strictly accurate, for both theory and experience prove that it is a little flattened toward the poles. This deviation, however, is so very small, the equatorial diameter being to the polar nearly as 230 to 229, that no material error will be occasioned by considering the earth as a perfect sphere. From the medium of a number of measurements, the following dimensions may be taken as very near the truth:

The circumference.

The diameter

25,000 miles.

The superficies

...

7,957 miles.

198,943,750

square miles.

From a measurement of the best maps it appears, that

14,110,874

The circumference of every circle is supposed by mathematicians to be divided into 360 equal parts, called degrees. A Degree of a great circle of the earth will therefore be nearly 694 English miles. Hence a geographical mile, being the 60th part of a degree, is greater than an English mile.

This earth which we inhabit seems comparatively a small point in the universe, the Sun being above two millions of times larger than the earth, and there is reason to suppose, that similar is the fact with respect to all the stars.

The Position of the Earth and Solar System.

How magnificent and exalted are the ideas presented to the human mind by the contemplation of the universe!! In the formation and preservation of this stupendous structure the wonders of Omnipotence are illustriously displayed, and the more accurate and extensive our knowledge of the Universe, the more elevated will be cur conceptions of the Supreme Being.

The term Universe comprehends the whole frame of nature, to the utmost extent of Creation, but by the Solar System is meant that portion of the universe which comprehends the Sun, planets, satellites, and comets. The Sun is the centre of this system, and there are nine planets, cach in its orbit, which revolve around him. The names of these, according to their distance from the Sun, are, Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Ceres*, Pallas*, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Georgian.

* Ceres was discovered by M. Piazzie, astronomer royal at Palermo, on the 1st of January, 1801. To the naked eye it is not visible, nor will glasses of a very high magnifying power show it with a distinctly defined diameter. Pallas, which was discovered by Dr. Olbers at Hamburg, is still smaller.