The New York Annual Register

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by Edwin Williams, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York.

PREFACE.

A work of practical utility, as this is intended to be, re quires but few words by way of preface or explanation of its plan or design. It is highly flattering to the compiler that the Register has continued to grow in public favor at each year of its publication; that it has been deemed by adequate judges, worthy to occupy a place among the best statistical works on the United States; and is frequently quoted as a book of authority, both in this country and in Europe. It has been his aim in preparing the fourth volume, now presented to the public, not only to maintain the character for accuracy of the preceding volumes, but to improve upon the experience acquired by time and practice.

The First Part of this volume, containing the almanac and astronomical department, will be found to embody much useful information, particularly an instructive essay on the calendar, and its successive reforms, and an alphabetical list of discoveries and inventions in mathematics and natural philosophy. These two articles are from the Companion to the British Almanac.

The Second Part is as usual devoted to the statistics of the State of New-York.

The Third Part contains the civil and judicial list of the State, counsellors and attorneys at law, military establishment, and clergy.

The Fourth Part is a concise National Register, containing also, the new United States Tariff.

In the Appendix will be found, besides miscellaneous matter, late state appointments, and the names of officers of the common councils of the cities in this State, most of whom have been elected during the last and present month; thus bringing information down to the latest period.

To his correspondents in the different counties of this state, who have furnished him with information for this volume, the compiler returns his grateful acknowledgements. The tardiness, however, with which some of his letters have been replied to from some quarters, and the neglect they

have met with from others, have been serious obstacles in the progress of this publication. The principal reliance must, after all, from their favorable situations, be placed in the county clerks; who are earnestly requested to collect and forward the necessary information at the close of each year. The particulars respecting the different towns can easily be obtained from the supervisors at their annual meetings. Should proper pains be taken hereafter to furnish, for the Register, more full and accurate statistics from the various towns, many improvements may be made each succeeding year, and the usefulness of the work greatly extended.

It is deemed unnecessary to add many words on the subject of the great labor and expense necessary in the preparation of an annual work of this kind. The former, the compiler is willing cheerfully to bestow for a very moderate compensation from the public for his exertions; but it is due to him self to say, that the support thus far received, for the Register, has been very inadequate to the expense. He trusts, however, while he returns his sincere thanks to those who have generously patronized the work, that the number of his patrons will increase in all quarters of the State, and that those who are desirous to see this annual of statistics sustained and continued, will use their influence and exertions to promote the sales in the hands of the agents. The price is fixed at the lowest rate at which the book can be afforded, namely, one dollar and fifty cents, and it is believed that this price is as reasonable, under the circumstances, as that of any other statistical work in the language.

This volume is now submitted to the people of this State for their decision of the question, whether the work shall be continued for future years? The edition has not been increased since that of last year, but a sale of the whole is required to remunerate the compiler. To the corporations of cities and villages, county: officers, counsellors at law, and professional men general, the compiler confidently appeals for patronage. for a work which, although contain ing much interesting information for the agricultural, mercantile, and mechanical branches of the community, is almost indispensable to the classes first named.

Books