Chap. XXIV.] Encyclopcedlas.Kc. Ill 



Chambers denominated his work a Cyclopaedia^ 

 It was the result of many years' intense applica- 

 tion to study, and was received by the public 

 in the most favourable manner. It went througli 

 a number of editions within a few years after 

 its first appearance, was soon translated into 

 the Italian language, and had many honours 

 heaped upon it by the learned of those time.s. 

 This work has been since enlarged, and print- 

 ed in four volumes folio, by Dr. Rees, and iu 

 this improved form is much valued. 



The next in order vras a Dictionary of Arts and 

 Trades, published by a society in France, antl 

 embracing an amount of information on all me- 

 chanical subjects, more extensive and curiou.^ 

 than had ever before been collected. This was 

 ,follov/ed by the celebrated French Encyclopedic. 

 of which Messrs. d'Alembert and Diderot were 

 the principal conductors, aided by a number of 

 their learned countrymen. It is probable th.at 

 they were prompted to this undertaking by tht? 

 fame and success of Mr. Chambers's Vvork, and 

 also by a premeditated and svst,^matic desijjn to 

 throw all possible odium on revealed religion 

 This great compilation was begun in 1752, and 

 brought to a close about fifteen or twenty years 

 afterward, in thirty-three folio volumes. A lead- 

 ing feature of the Encyclopedie is the encourage- 

 ment which it artfully gives throughout to the 

 most impious infidelity ; and though much valu- 

 able science is undoubtedly diffused through its 

 pages, yet it is so contamuiated with the mixture 

 of licentious principles in morals and religion, 

 that nothing but its great voluminousness prevents 



