The object of this work, as will be seen, is to bring together the great
events of each day of the year, in all ages, as far as their dates can
be ascertained, and to arrange them chronologically. It has been
necessary to observe brevity in its compilation, in order to reduce it
within a proper compass. Hence notices of the most eminent men are often
confined to two or three lines, while individuals of less note have
occasionally received more attention, on account of the absence of ready
reference to them in books.
The dates are in accordance, it is believed, with the best authorities.
Great care has been taken to make them so, and nothing has been inserted
for which there was not at least some authority. Occasionally authors
have been found to disagree in days, months, and even years, and it has
been necessary to reconcile, as well as possible, such discrepancies.
Much of this confusion arises from the change in the calendar; some
authors following the old, others the new style, without informing us
which they adhere to. The protestant countries did not all adopt the new
style till 1777, about two centuries after the catholic authorities had
reformed the calendar. The Russians still use the Julian era, and are
now consequently twelve days behind the true time. With these
difficulties in the way, no ordinary vigilance ensures an entire freedom
from error in a work like this. The dates here, however, are made to
conform to the new style as far as practicable. In some cases where
different dates have been given, and it has been found impossible to
determine the true one, the article has been inserted under different
days with cross references. Repetitions have crept in however, which
could only be discovered in preparing the index. Errors of this kind are
perpetuated by a succession of authors following a wrong date, and are
exceedingly difficult to detect, or when suspected, not easily traced to
their origin. When dates have been taken from computations of time other
than the Christian era, it should be understood that the corresponding
day has been made to conform to our own era, and consequently perfect
accuracy can not be claimed for them.
It has been said that geography and chronology are the eyes of history;
in aiding to promote one of these sciences, the reader will not fail to
discover how great and varied is the amount of facts brought together,
rendering the work of use to persons of every age and calling. A
reference to the index will show more clearly the extent of the work.