ENCYCLOPEDIA AMERICANA. 
2 
and cumbrous, being usually elaborate treatises, requiring much 
study or previous acquaintance with the subject discussed. The 
conductors of the Conversation Lexicon endeavored to select 
from every branch of knowledge what was necessary to a well- 
informed mind, and to give popular views of the more abstruse 
branches of learning and science ; that their readers might not 
be incommoded, and deprived of pleasure or improvement, by 
ignorance of facts or expressions used in books or conversation. 
Such a work must obviously be of great utility to every class of 
readers. It has been found so much so in Germany, that it 
is met with everywhere, among the learned, the lawyers, the 
military, artists, merchants, mechanics, and men of all stations. 
The reader may judge how well it is adapted to its object, 
from the circumstance, that though it now consists of twelve 
volumes, seven editions, comprising about one hundred thou- 
sand copies, have been printed in less than fifteen years. It 
has been translated into the Swedish, Danish and Dutch lan- 
guages, and a French translation is now preparing in Paris. 
A great advantage of this work is its liberal and impartial 
character ; and there can be no doubt that a book like the En- 
cyclopedia Americana will be found peculiarly useful in this 
country, where the wide diffusion of the blessings of education, 
and the constant intercourse of all classes, create a great de- 
mand for general information. 
In the preparation of the work thus far, the Editors have 
been aided by many gentlemen of distinguished ability ; and for 
the continuation, no efforts shall be spared to secure the aid of 
all who can, in any way, contribute to render it worthy of 
patronage. 
The American Biography, which is very extensive, will be 
furnished by Mr. Walsh, who has long paid particular atten- 
tion to that branch of our literature, and from materials in the 
collection of which he has been engaged for some years. For 
obvious reasons, the notices of distinguished Americans will be 
confined to deceased individuals : the European biography con- 
tains notices of all distinguished living characters, as well as 
those of past times. 
The articles on Zoology have been written expressly for the 
present edition by Dr. John D. God man ; those on Chemistry 
and Mineralogy, by a gentleman deeply versed in those de- 
partments of science. 
In relation to the Fine Arts, the work will be exceedingly 
rich. Great attention was given to this in the German work, 
and the Editors have been anxious to render it, by the necessary 
additions, as perfect as possible. 
To gentlemen of the Bar, the work will be peculiarly valua- 
ble, as in cases where legal subjects are treated, an account is 
