PREFACE. V 



tended work. The year preceding its appearance was 

 employed in digesting the plan, establishing correspon- 

 dences, investigating the various sources of information, 

 and settling the order and disposition of the materials ; 

 and it was not until after those materials were in conside- 

 rable forwardness, and the whole arrangement was be- 

 fore the Editor, that the Proprietors thought themselves 

 enabled to disclose their views, and express their confi- 

 dence in the public support. 



If the value of a composition of the magnitude and ex- 

 tent of the British Encyclopedia could be seen at once 

 by a cursory or even by a diligent examination : or if the 

 variety of subjects it comprehends would admit of the 

 supposition, that a decision on its merits could be made, 

 in a reasonable time, by general readers, it might then 

 be consistent with the .becoming reserve of men, speaking 

 of their own labours, to submit them wholly to the ulti- 

 mate voice of a discerning public. But when by compi- 

 lation from the works of authors, standing high in cele- 

 brity for knowledge and for talents ; by the occasional 

 abridgment and elucidation of the products of these re- 

 searches ; and by the insertion, in almost every sheet, of 

 treatises or disquisitions composed expressly for the pur- 

 pose, the whole composition of a Dictionary of Science 

 shall bear the marks of originality, it becomes a duty in 

 the Editor, with regard to himself and the other writers, 

 that he should, to a certain extent, point out what has 

 been done in this respect. 



It would be truly gratifying to the Editor, if he might 

 attempt in this place to express his sentiments of the trea- 

 tises which have passed under his view in the conduct 



