This is an amazing book, compiled in 1876, one hundred years after the revolution. It includes first hand accounts of amazing events, from monumental earthquakes and world wide meteor showers, to personal accounts of the invention of steamships and other discoveries,celebrated criminal cases andthe impact of duels, the great panic of 1837, the expected destruction of the world predicted in 1843 and details of George Washington's personal impact on the average citizen. An amazing enjoyably written glimpse into our country. I am loving reading this!