PREFACE TO VOLUME IV. 



WITH the present volume the American Supplement to the Ninth Edition of the Encyclopaedia 

 Britannica is brought to a close soon after the completion of the original work. This Supplement 

 was commenced in 1882 at the earnest request of a large number of the American subscribers to the 

 Britannica. A dozen volumes, forming one-half of that great work, had then appeared and its cir- 

 culation in the United States was steadily increasing. Prof. Robert Ellis Thompson, Ph. D., was 

 selected as editor-in-chief of the new undertaking and under his supervision the plan was drafted and 

 the greater part of the first two volumes was prepared for the press. The original publishers having 

 then relinquished the work Prof. Thompson retired and was succeeded by Eev. Howard Crosby, D. D., 

 LL. D. Prof. John P. Lamberton, as associate editor, has had constant and direct charge of the 

 work throughout its progress. 



It had been announced that the Supplement should be comprised in four volumes of size similar 

 to those of the Britannica. The First volume corresponds to Volumes I.-IV. of that work ; the 

 Second to Volumes V.-VIII. ; the Third to Volumes IX.-XVIL, and this concluding volume to 

 Volumes XVIII.-XXIV. It is a fact manifest to all who have made the comparison that since 

 this American work has been underway the successive volumes of the Britannica have given evidence 

 of increasing attention to American subjects. Especially the several States and cities of this country 

 have been more carefully described by American writers. Some of these, therefore, whose names fall 

 within the limits of this volume, it has beeu deemed unnecessary to treat again. 



The Encyclopaedia Britannica has also furnished in its Twenty-third Volume a compact article 

 on the " United States," in which American authorities of the first rank have discussed our couutry's 

 history, geography, climate, vegetation, mineral resources, population, commerce, etc. This elaborate 

 treatise seemed at once to render it superfluous to discuss this subject again in a similar way. The 

 reader should remember, however, that numerous topics, there briefly considered within the compass 

 of one article, have been treated more fully under appropriate titles throughout the Supplement. 



The greater fulness of the Encyclopaedia Britannica on American topics in its later volumes has 

 enabled the editors of the Supplement to traverse the corresponding ground more rapidly. They 

 have still found abundant room for judicious enlargement and addition to the original work. Amer- 

 ican biography, the careers and works of living persons of note at home and abroad, the political, legal, 

 religious and social institutions of our country, its natural history and resources, are here exhibited 

 at such length as their interest to Americans seemed to demand. 



The important subjects relating to the Bible, which have been treated in the Britannica in an 

 extremely rationalistic spirit (the later volumes in this regard exceeding the earlier), have beeu dis- 

 cussed in this Supplement in a reverent manner by American scholars of acknowledged ability. The 

 views here presented, so far as they controvert the assertions of the English and German writers in 

 the Britannica, will be found to be based on an equally thorough knowledge of the original languages 

 and to show a more thorough sifting of evidence. 



In concluding their labors iu connection with this work the publishers and editors render their 

 hearty thanks to the contributors who have diligently assisted them in their endeavor to amend, 

 enlarge, perfect and adapt to American ideas the marvellous treasury of information to be found in 

 the Encyclopaedia Britannica. They trust that the American public which has shown a kind appre- 

 ciation of the former volumes will receive this concluding volume with the same generous favor 



