Description

Author Samuel Perkins’ (1767-1850) object for writing this book c. 1837 was to provide general information and to give a concise view about all nations and all inhabited continents. While his canvas was certainly broad, still Perkins created one of the longest book titles on record: “The World As It Is : Containing a View of the Present Condition of its Principal Nations, as to their Forms of Government, Military and Naval Strength, Revenues, Banking Institutions, Prison Discipline, Commerce, Religion, Morals, Education, &c., &c., with Anecdotes of Distinguished Characters & Numerous Engravings.” In a sense, Perkins had been preparing for this assignment all of his life. He was born in the village of Lisbon, CT, graduated from Yale in 1785 where he studied theology, but he then moved 15 miles to Windham, CT where he practiced law and spent the rest of his life. In 1825, at the age of 58, he wrote his first book a History of the War of 1812. Three years later he published his second volume which was largely an attack on Andrew Jackson who was about to run, successfully, for President. Perkins then moved on to write “Historical Sketches” of the United States. He then settled down to write his major work, “The World As It Is,” which would go through at least 7 editions. He caught the world at a real inflection point: Andrew Jackson’s presidency brought about strong sectional differences regarding tariffs, state’s rights, the national bank and the responsibility for funding infrastructure such as roads and canals. Queen Victoria had just ascended to the Throne after a stormy period of flawed kings, and steam railroads had just started to run in Britain (Manchester & Liverpool Line) and in Maryland (“The rail road company expects to pass the Allegheny summit by a series of inclined planes, with stationary engines; … at the average speed of 10 miles an hour, the whole distance will be passed in something less than a day and a half”) with steam boats now found on the Hudson. Outside the 1837 boundaries of the United States, there was a lot taking place. Samuel Perkins relates that in 1836 “General Houston had been elected president of the Republic of Texas, and that in October its Congress had met in Houston, the seat of government.” For Mexico, Perkins could only write that “in their present unsettled state, nothing definite can be said relative to their respective boundaries or the nature of their government.” He described how Simon Bolivar was still trying to form a southern “federal union,” while Brazil (and Portugal) were governed by Emperor Don Pedro directly from Rio Janeiro. Finally, Perkins discusses Patagonia, noting that “in this region American enterprise has been successfully engaged in taking seals.” Although his title seems to restrict his subject to “principal nations,” Perkins writes about all the inhabited continents and countries, and he does not shy away from making grand conclusions: “Marriage, in the European sense of the word, is unknown in Asia;” or another example: “The laws of China inculcate a system of good morals, which is but little observed.” Note should be taken of the dozens of fascinating engravings (see photos) which are found throughout the book. This book is a true treasure trove of endless stories from a lost world which will give the reader many days of pleasure.