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NATURE 



{March 4, 1875 



Xl^i 



edition was in every respect an improvement on its pre- 

 decessor, and being extended to ten volumes, room was 

 found for the extension and elaboration of many important 

 topics. 



The second edition was not, like the first edition, a 

 mere compilation. The proprietors had early seen the 

 necessity of employing the most talented men they could 

 find to contribute the results of their special studies 

 in literature and philosophy, and several eminent men 

 of the period earned honourable remuneration by writing 

 for the work ; indeed, it is to the earlier editors of the 

 "Encyclopaedia Britannica" that scientific men owe it 

 that their literary labours came so early to have a recog- 

 nised money value. In the third edition, which was 

 commenced early in 17S8, the system of obtaining the 

 best articles in physical science and literature from those 

 who had made these subjects a special study was con- 

 tinued and extended, adding greatly to the value of the 

 work. Mr. M'Farquhar, the proprietor, contributed very 

 largely to its success by the unremitting attention which 

 he bestowed on the editorial department. His labour in 

 connection with the third edition, all the earlier portions of 

 which he edited himself, had such an effect upon his health 

 that he died in the fiftieth year of his age. Dr. Gleig, of 

 Stirling, afterwards Bishop of Brechin, who had been a 

 voluminous contributor, was offered and accepted the 

 editorship after the third edition had been begun. This 

 learned gentleman aided in giving that high tone to the 

 " Encyclopaedia " which it afterwards maintained under 

 the editorial supervision of Mr. Macvey Napier and Dr. 

 Traill, and which, judging from the first volume, it is 

 hkely to maintain under the editorial superintendence of 

 Prof. Spencer Baynes. 



The services of Prof. John Robison, of the Uni- 

 versity of Edinburgh, were secured at an early stage, 

 and that gentleman ultimately became a very volu- 

 minous contributor to the third edition. He renewed 

 the article on Optics, and jointly with the editor 

 produced the article on Philosophy. He also con- 

 tributed the articles on Physics, Resistance, Specific 

 Gravity, Tides, Telescopes, and numerous others. To a 

 supplement of two volumes which was ultimately added 

 to the third edition Robison was also a voluminous 

 contributor ; for this portion of the work he wrote many 

 of the scientific articles, including Astronomy, Dynamics, 

 Electricity, l^Iagnetisni, Thunder, Trumpet, and Watch- 

 iL'orl;. Prof. Robison undoubtedly did much to render 

 the " Encyclopedia Britannica" the great work which it 

 has become. 



The issue of the third edition of the " Britannica " was 

 completed in 1797 in eighteen volumes. Constable, at 

 that time rising into fame as a great publisher, acquired 

 the copyright of the supplement to that edition for the 

 sum of 100/. Before long a fourth edition was called for, 

 which was published in twenty volumes and completed in 

 thirteen years from the time at which the third edition 

 was finished. This edition was quite as successful as any 

 of those which preceded it. It was edited by Dr. James 

 Miller, and under his auspices the system of having the 

 greater portion of the matter supplied by specialists 

 was largely extended, and with the greatest possible ad- 

 vantage to the work. 



After this time a new chapter in the history of the 



"Encyclopedia" begins. Mr. Constable ultimately ac- 

 quired the copyright, and at once set to work with 

 his usual enthusiasm to improve the book, beginning 

 with preparations for the issue of a " great " supple- 

 ment, in emulation of the French work which had been 

 the literary sensation of its time. This supplement was 

 placed under the editorial charge of Mr. Macvey Napier, 

 and the aid of Dugald Stewart was obtained as a con- 

 tributor of one of the celebrated preliminary disserta- 

 tions. His was on the History of Metaphysics and 

 Ethical and Political Philosophy ; the other dissertation 

 was, if we mistake not, left unfinished by Playfair ; it was 

 upon ISIathematics and Physical Science. This work was 

 completed by Sir James Mackintosh and Prof. Leslie. 

 Constable felt, when he had obtained the services of an 

 eminent man like Stewart, and also of Davy, that he was 

 entitled to ask all the great literary and scientific men of 

 the day to aid him in his undertaking. He did so, and 

 among the splendid list of contributors which he gathered 

 around him were to be found the names of Arago and 

 Biot. 



A large sum of money in addition to the amount 

 paid for the Dissertations was expended on the 

 supplement ; and there is no doubt that the public 

 owe to the liberality and energy of Archibald Constable 

 all the best features of the great work as it now exists. 

 The supplement was ultimately and properly incorpo- 

 rated into the future editions of the work, the sixth and 

 seventh editions of which were edited by Mr. Macvey 

 Napier. It is unnecessary further to follow the literary 

 fortunes of the book. Archbishop Whately and Prof. 

 Forbes contributed each an additional dissertation. It 

 would take up too much of our space to give a list of all 

 the distinguished contributors to the seventh and eighth 

 editions of the " Encyclopa;dia Britannica," many of 

 whom were of world-wide celebrity at the time when they 

 wrote, and many more of whom, then comparatively 

 obscure, have since become famous. 



Coming now to the ninth edition, it would not, we 

 think, be any exaggeration to say that the first volume 

 contains as much matter as the three "ill-furnished" 

 quartos which embraced the whole contents of the 

 work as originally projected. From being a mere 

 compilation, the "Britannica" under previous editors 

 had become a work of national importance, con- 

 taining original treatises on science, art, and litera- 

 ture, by famous literary and scientific men. A glance 

 at the first instalment of this issue warrants us in 

 declaring that the work will lose nothing from having 

 been entrusted to Prof. Baynes. Although he pos- 

 sesses what may be called a perfect mine of art, 

 science, and philosophy in the preceding edition, it must 

 not be forgotten that twenty years have elapsed since it 

 began to be issued. During that "period science and art 

 have made vast strides, and history has not been standing 

 still. In biography there are many new names to add to 

 the list of the illustrious dead ; and in geography, and trade 

 and manufactures, many radical changes ha\-e taken place. 



The two previous editions of the work began with the 

 celebrated " Dissertations " to which allusion has already 

 been made ; but the present issue commences at once, 

 if we except a brief and well-written preface, with the 

 proper matter of the book in alphabetical sequence. 



