JK3131 1514/15 DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT: District Clerk's Office. BE it remembered, that on the ninth day of June, A. D. 1814, and in the thir. ty-eighth year of the independence of the United States of America, William Burdick of the said district has deposited in this office, the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following, to wit:-" The Massachusetts Manual; or Political and Historical Register for the political year from June 1814 to June 1815. Devoted to historical, political, agricultural, med. ical, religious, statistical, commercial, navai, military, masonic, banking, literary, charitable, humane, astronomical, and miscellaneous Intelligence. By William Burdick. Utility-Impartiality. Vol. I." 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 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 extending the benefits thereof to the arts of de signing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." WILLIAM S. SHAW, Clerk of the District of Massachusetts. 1 PREFACE. "THE Massachusetts Manual; or Historical and Political Regis ter," issued in January last, was merely experimental-but it hav ing been received with particular approbation by the public, induccd the publisher to apply to the author to prepare matter for, a new edition, to appear in June; and accordingly the present volume has been prepared and published. This new edition embraces the commencement of the Massachusetts Political New Year; and anticipates the customary time of publishing many other articles of interest and usefulness which otherwise must have laid dormant till January next.-So that the Public will readily perceive they are six or seven months in advance of the usual mode of obtaining registered intelligence. Since issuing the experimental No. of January last, the author has been honored and obliged by much friendly advice and assistance; for which he returns his gratitude. Many of the useful hints have been improved upon in this volume; and, had time and opportunity permitted, they would all have been attended to. Several valuable communications remain on hand, which were received at too late a period to be inserted in this volume; a circumstance of peculiar regret to the Editor, as their insertion would have greatly enhanced the usefulness and respectability of the work. The present volume embraces, it is believed, a valuable variety of matter; exhibiting many "bird's-eye" views of foreign and domestic affairs; and affording a great assemblage of interesting and novel facts-not to be found collected in any other work. This volume should have appeared earlier in June than it has ; but the organization of the State Government (which it was indispensable to obtain), consumed a longer period of time than usual, and of course delayed the work. The Editor has renewedly endeavoured to render the publication IMPARTIAL, INTERESTING, and CORRECT.-Impartial, that neither of two great political parties, which now exist in the Commonwealth, should have cause of complaint ;-interesting, that it might afford rare and useful information;-and correct, that it may serve as a book of prompt reference. His aim has been, and will continue to be, to render the work worthy of both the pocket and the li brary; and he hopes to receive such aid from gentlemen of information as to be enabled to carry his aim into complete effect. The Tablets of Memory and Foreign Memoranda have been brought up with precision, and with all possible accuracy. The Votes for Governor have been carefully and repeatedly read over by the official book of returns ;-and the designation of parties in the Legislature, it is believed, is correctly given. The Abridgement of the Election Laws, &c. which had been made with care, and it is hoped with sufficient perspicuity, bas been revised and amended. M126046 |