AMERICA has as yet occupied comparatively less space than the two preceding divisions of the globe; but a survey of its several states, as well as those of EUROPE, forms part of the plan upon which the CABINET LIBRARY has been constructed. A History of the Scandinavian kingdoms, DENMARK, SWEDEN, AND NORWAY, and of the adjacent Islands and Dependencies in the Northern Seas, is in course of preparation; and among the contributors to this work the Proprietors may mention HENRY WHEATON, Honorary Member of the Scandinavian and Icelandic Literary Societies, who, from his long residence at Copenhagen, in his official capacity of Charge d'Affaires from the United States, has had access to the best sources of information. GREECE and ITALY, both ANCIENT AND MODERN, are now in a state of considerable progress; and from what has already been accomplished, some idea may be formed by the reader as to the nature and contents of this department of the LIBRARY. II--MARITIME DISCOVERY. This subdivision of the plan is intimately and essentially connected with the preceding. The Adventures and Discoveries of Navigators are not only highly entertaining in themselves, as they abound in perils and disasters, and give rise to extraordinary displays of heroism and intrepidity; but they serve to correct and enlarge our knowledge of history, by throwing new lights on the realities of nature and of human life. To this very interesting and important subject two volumes of the CABINET LIBRARY have already been assigned. The Series opened with a description of the POLAR SEAS AND REGIONS,--giving a connected narrative of the successive voyages to those remote parts for the purposes of colonization or discovery; a view of the climate and its phenomena; the geological structure and other remarkable features peculiar to the sublime scenery of the Polar latitudes; with a copious account of the whale-fishery. To complete the history of Arctic adventure, the subject was resumed in the ninth volume, which delineates, in the same condensed manner, the PROGRESS OF DISCOVERY ON THE MORE NORTHERN COASTS OF AMERICA, including a detail of the numerous expeditions undertaken by the nations of Europe, and particularly by Britain, to trace the extreme limits of that vast continent, partly by land, and partly by coast and river navigation. In these two volumes are contained a full and consecutive view of the various efforts that have been made to explore the Arctic Regions, from the times of Cabot and Cortereal to those of Parry, Franklin, and Beechey.