It will be recollected8 that the first volume was originally published separately, and was complete in itself. It treated of the influence of democracy upon the political institutions of the United States, and exhibited views of the nature of our government, and of their complicated machinery9, so new, so striking, and so just, as to excite the admiration10 and even the wonder of our countrymen. It was universally admitted to be the best, if not the first systematic11 and philosophic12 view of the great principles of our constitutions which has been presented to the world. As a treatise13 upon the spirit of our governments, it was full and finished, and was deemed worthy14 of being introduced as a text-book in some of our Seminaries of Learning. The publication of the first volume alone would therefore seem to be sufficient to accomplish in the main the objects of the publishers above stated.
And upon a careful re-examination of the second volume, this impression is confirmed. It is entirely15 independent of the first volume, and is in no way essential to a full understanding of the principles and views contained in that volume. It discusses the effects of the democratic principle upon the tastes, feelings, habits, and manners of the Americans; and although deeply interesting and valuable, yet the observations of the author on these subjects are better calculated for foreign countries than for our own citizens. As he wrote for Europe they were necessary to his plan. They follow naturally and properly the profound views which had already been presented, and which they carry out and illustrate16. But they furnish no new developments of those views, nor any facts that would be new to us.
The publishers were therefore advised that the printing of the first volume complete and entire, was the only mode of attaining17 the object they had in view. They have accordingly determined18 to adopt that course, intending, if the public sentiment should require it, hereafter to print the second volume in the same style, so that both may be had at the same moderate price.
A few notes, in addition to those contained in the former editions, have been made by the American editor, which upon a reperusal of the volume seemed useful if not necessary: and some statistical19 results of the census20 of 1840 have been added, in connection with similar results given by the author from returns previous to that year.
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1 solicited | |
v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 );(指娼妇)拉客;索求;征求 | |
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2 attain | |
vt.达到,获得,完成 | |
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3 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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4 confided | |
v.吐露(秘密,心事等)( confide的过去式和过去分词 );(向某人)吐露(隐私、秘密等) | |
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5 ascertain | |
vt.发现,确定,查明,弄清 | |
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6 abridgment | |
n.删节,节本 | |
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7 condensation | |
n.压缩,浓缩;凝结的水珠 | |
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8 recollected | |
adj.冷静的;镇定的;被回忆起的;沉思默想的v.记起,想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9 machinery | |
n.(总称)机械,机器;机构 | |
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10 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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11 systematic | |
adj.有系统的,有计划的,有方法的 | |
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12 philosophic | |
adj.哲学的,贤明的 | |
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13 treatise | |
n.专著;(专题)论文 | |
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14 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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15 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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16 illustrate | |
v.举例说明,阐明;图解,加插图 | |
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17 attaining | |
(通常经过努力)实现( attain的现在分词 ); 达到; 获得; 达到(某年龄、水平、状况) | |
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18 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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19 statistical | |
adj.统计的,统计学的 | |
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20 census | |
n.(官方的)人口调查,人口普查 | |
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