VI PREFACE. 



have honoured him with their assistance iii the com- 

 pletion of the undertaking ; but he fears that the lan- 

 guage of approbation which he would in justice feel him- 

 self compelled to use, might be misconstrued into an 

 unbecoming endeavour to enhance, beyond its merits, 

 the value of the publication. Some of the authors of the 

 British Encyclopedia have chosen to reserve their 

 names. The Editor has written and composed upwards 

 of two hundred articles on Chemistry, Natural Philo- 

 sophy, and Mechanics, and practical subjects relating 

 to them, besides several of the lives of great men. The 

 Mathematical Articles, including the mixed subjects of 

 Astronomy, Optics, Phonics, Statics, and many others, 

 were drawn up by a popular author, who is well known 

 for his writings on those subjects. The article Conic 

 Sections was written by JAMES IVORY, Esq. of the Royal 

 Military College of Mai-low. To the Rev. Dr. CAR- 

 PENTER, of Exeter, our readers are indebted for the ar- 

 ticles Grammar, Language, Mental and Moral Philo- 

 sophy, Understanding, the Origin of Writing, and many 

 others connected with the philosophy of the mind. For 

 the articles Criticism, History, Poetry, and Rhetoric, 

 our obligations are due to the Rev. WM. SHEPHERD, 

 author of the life of Poggio Bracciolini. To J. J. GREL- 

 LIER, Esq. of the Royal Exchange Insurance Company, 

 are to be ascribed many valuable articles on Political 

 Economy, the Doctrine of Annuities, Reversions, Assur- 

 ance, &c. 



In our Medical Department, the articles Dietetics, 

 Diseases and Treatment of Infancy, Materia Medica, 

 Medicine, Midwifery, and Pharmacy, were written by 

 J. M. GOOD, Esq. the learned translator of " Lucretius, 7 -' 



