example of female ability in authorship—is here presented to English readers, with such alterations and additions as the Editor considered it desirable to make. Many new biographies have been added, and those written by Mrs. Hale and her coadjutors carefully revised. Some have been altogether omitted, as referring to persons who possessed little or no claim to a place in a collection of Female Worthies. Great care has been taken to verify the dates and facts already given, and to insert only such fresh ones as good authorities would furnish; and no pains have been spared to make the work as perfect and correct as possible. With all care that could be taken, however, it is to be expected that some errors will have crept in, and the Editor will feel obliged, if such of his readers as may detect any, will kindly point them out, that they may be corrected in subsequent editions of the work, which, in its alphabetical mode of arrangement, style, and price, is exactly uniform with others of the series of Cyclopædias now in course of publication; those already issued being "The Cyclopædia of Poetical Quotations," and "The Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations."
Rochester, August, 1857.
