ADVERTISEMENT. 



therefore, resolved to keep very faithfully to the origiual; and they are thus 

 enabled to present the British public, for MM first time, with an edition of the 

 Conversations Lexicon. Their publication, which has been long in preparation, 

 and which was advertised more than a year ago, differs essentially from the penny 

 Cyclopedias lately started, which profess to be founded on the basis of the Conver- 

 sations Lexicon, but which are so arranged that they convey no notion of that 

 celebrated work. 



Xfitrly Two Hundred of the most eminent German writers contributed to the 

 original work ; and the American edition, upon which the present is formed, has 

 been improved by a variety of original articles from eminent American writers, so 

 that this edition will combine the excellencies both of the original and corrected 

 copies. To render it still more worthy of public favour, and especially to suit it to 

 the wants and interests of this country, it is carefully revised, and such additions 

 made to it as are considered necessary for the English reader. These, of them- 

 selves, will constitute nearly one-fourth of the book, so that, independent of its 

 cosmopolitan character, the reader may count on the fullest and most recent infor- 

 mation on all subjects connected with the British empire. In addition, the Pub- 

 lishers have resolved to give a series of Dissertations on Science, Literature, and 

 the Fine Arts. 



In bestowing, upon the present edition, the title of The Popular Encyclopedia, 

 the Publishers consider themselves justified, not only by the nature of the work, 

 which is in every respect popular, being adapted to all tastes and capacities, but 

 by the fact of its popularity, which exceeds that of any other work of the kind in 

 Europe. More than one hundred thousand copies have been sold in Germany alone, 

 and it is making equal progress throughout the other countries of Europe and the 

 States of America. This fact may be considered as a guarantee of its usefulness ; 

 but that nothing may be wanting to render the present edition acceptable, it will 

 be illustrated with Plates and Diagrams when necessary these having been found 

 the only desiderata in the former editions of the work. 



