FIFTY-SECOND AND FIFTY-THIRD YEARS OF AMERICAN SECOND EDITION. NEW-YORK: WILLIAM JACKSON, AND E. & G. W. BLUNT, 1835. PREFACE. THE period of history embraced in the present volume of the American Annual Register, comprehends nearly two years. This departure from the original plan, although partly caused by considerations only interesting to its conductor, was in some measure justified by the peculiar character of the events which transpired during that time. The proceedings of the first session of the 20th congress, and most of the domestic affairs of this country, had a direct reference to the presidential election, which took place shortly after the close of the period originally intended to be embraced in this volume, and the second session gave rise to nothing of general interest, but was confined to the consideration of such laws only, as were absolutely necessary for the support of the government. There seemed, therefore, to be a peculiar fitness in including the proceedings of both sessions in one volume. The war between Russia and Turkey, although originating in causes, which must be sought in the early history of Europe, and productive of consequences which the most powerful imagination can but faintly shadow forth, also commenced and terminated within the same years. The character of the principal events transpiring in other European kingdoms, and the infant republics on this continent, gave additional force to the consideration, and finally led to the determination, to so far modify the plan, as to include the |