PREFACE.

such also as present errors which ought to be avoided; and as far as space permitted, these instances of faulty andinappropriate decoration have been pointed out in the explanatory text.

Certain large classes of objects, among which were some of the most important and best represented in the Exhi-bition, did not admit of pictorial illustrations; others did not come properly within the plan of this work; theformer have been partially elucidated in the general essays, and both will receive further attention in the Descriptiveand Annotated Catalogue.

It will be observed, and we desire to call attention to the fact, that many of the essays in the Record are employedto explain the condition, methods, and instruments of the United States Coast Survey. It was this part of the New-York Exhibition which was most honorable to our country, as showing our advanced progress in several of the mostabstract and difficult departments of human knowledge. The United States may safely rest their claims to be countedamong the foremost nations of the world upon what has been already done, and is still doing, for science, for com-merce, and for humanity in the Coast Survey.

It is proper to say a word of the engravings themselves, which fill more than half of this volume. The best artistsand engravers in this country were employed to execute them; and the greater part have been done to our entiresatisfaction. They faithfully represent the present condition and attainments of the art of wood-engraving, and theywill not suffer by comparison with similar works executed abroad. In making such a comparison, it must be remem-bered that the wood-cuts of the Record have been wholly printed upon a power-press—a method much less adapted toshow their full beauty than the hand-press, but necessary to produce large editions with rapidity.

Our endeavors to make this volume a beautiful and acceptable record of the Yew-York Exhibition have beenalways aided by the generous and unhesitating liberality of the publishers, and to them is justly due, and will beawarded, whatever credit may attach to its publication.

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