The title of this work will, in a slight degree, indicate its purpose; still, in presenting it to the public, we would offer a few remarks as to our plan.

In accordance with our design, we have placed before our readers a popular and entertaining account of thousands of objects which are familiar to them in every-day life, but of which, from their very familiarity, they have never inquired. How are they made? Who invented them? Or what matters of interest are there connected with them?

We are fully impressed with the belief that there are many persons, and even educated ones, who, although they will not take the trouble to search for and collect the information necessary to form a proper estimate of the value and importance of our more familiar things, would, if it were brought before them without trouble, feel gratified and surprised at the fund of knowledge and amusement they offer. This we have done.

If there be any among our readers, who, having turned over the pages of "Inquire Within," have hastily pronounced them to be confused and ill arranged, let them at once refer to The Index, or forever hold their peace.

The Index is, to the vast congregation of useful hints and receipts that fill the boundary of this volume, like the Directory to the great aggregation of houses and people in New York.

1 No one, being a stranger to New York, would run about asking for "Mr. Smith." But, remembering the Christian name, and the profession of the individual wanted, would turn to the Directory, and trace him out.

Like a house, every paragraph in "Inquire Within," has its number, -and the Index is the Directory which will explain what Facts, Hints, and Instructions inhabit that number.

For, if it be not a misnomer, we are prompted to say that "Inquire Within" is peopled with thousands of ladies and gentlemen, who have approved of the plan of the work, and contributed something to its store of useful information. There they are, waiting to be questioned, and ready to reply. Only a short time ago, the facts and information, now assuming, the conventional forms of printing-types, were active thoughts in the minds of many people. Their fingers traced those thoughts upon the page, for the benefit of whomsoever might need information. We must not separate the thought from the mind which gave it birth; we must not look upon these writings as we should upon the traces left by the snail upon the geeu leaf, having neither form nor meaning. Behind each page some one lives to answer for the correctness of the information imparted, just as certainly as where in the window of a dwelling, you see a paper directing you to "Inquire Within" some one is there to answer you.

A Doctor lives at 906; a Gardener at 1021; a Schoolmaster at 1327 a Dancing Master at 1678; an Artist at 1851; a Naturalist at 1925 a Modeller at 1931; a Cook at 1972; a Philanthropist at 2006; a Lawyer at 2047; a Surgeon at 2186; a Chess Player at 2354; a Chemist at 2387; a Brewer at 2559; and so on.

Well! there they live - always at home - knock at their doors - Inquire Within - no fees to pay !!

We have taken so much care in selecting our information, and have been aided by so many kind friends in the production of our volume, that we canno turn to any page without at once being reminded of the Generous Friend