2G0 
Notices of Books . 
[A 
UG. 
Amongst these 61 numbers will be found 9 of the History of Greece, the ninth 
being tbe conclusion ; and containing, besides a chronological table, a title page, 
a table of contents, and an index. The whole subject forms a thin octavo volume 
of about 300 pages, close print, being equal to 600 pages of our ordinary books, 
the pi'ice of which is 4s. 6d., or 6d. a number. A volume of natural philosophy is 
also completed, and is furnished with title page, table of contents, index, and glos- 
saries, 1 his volume contains numbers 6, 7, 11, being tbe subject of mechanics; 
number 1, or hydrostatics ; number 2, or hydraulics ; number 3, or pneuma- 
tics ; numbers 4 and 5, on tbe subject of heat ; numbers 12 and 19, or optics; 
and numbers 46 and 53, or polarization. It forms a volume of about 470 pages, 
equal to 1000 ordinary, and is sold for The prices of these books will mark 
an sera in the history of Bibliopoly — and the Society has done great service in 
placing within the reach of readers of small means such a mass of useful infor- 
mation as they contain. 
But the good effects which the Society is producing do not stop with its own 
exertions. Let any reader look about him, and say whether we should have had at 
this moment the many 7 valuable yet cheap works which have succeeded each other 
so rapidly within the last two years, hut for the example set by this Society. Book- 
selleis have been at once frightened and persuaded into doing something towards 
the reduction of the unreasonable, and we had almost said unfair prices paid in 
England for books— prices double wliat they 7 are in every other country. They 
have learned from this Society that reduction of price may bring increase of profit ; 
and they have been forced to act on this truth by the conviction, that if they did 
not, the Society would soon run away with their business. Would Mr. Murray, 
who has an opinion that a book sells the better for adding a few shillings to its 
price 1 , have ever favoured the public with his family library but for the vis a 
tergo communicated by this Society. Would the London Encyclopaedia have ever 
been published at its most reasonable price, but for the salutarv dread of being 
left behind in the race of profit occasioned by tbe proceedings of this Society. In 
like manner we tliink we can trace Lardner’s Cabinet Cyclopaedia, apparently the 
best planned work of this kind, yet projected, and equally good in execution as far 
as it has yet gone, to the reception these cheap publications have met with. It was 
stated in our former notice that the sale averaged 10,000 copies, at a very early 
period : what it is now we do not know. 
So jealous were the booksellers of this novel experiment of selling cheap books, 
that the Society soon after its institution was assailed with all manner of abuse 
and misrepresentation. The public are now able to appreciate these tirades of 
monopoly and absurdity. This Society Imre delivered the public out of the hands 
of a knot of interested chapmen, and have made the meetings and resolutions 
of the book-selling trade powerless, to shut the door of knowledge If a 
student of humble means have it now in his power to satisfy his thirst for know- 
ledge, it is owing to the spirited proceeding of this Society. If even the wealthy 
and idle have caught some glimmering of knowledge, it is owing to the impetus 
given in the manufacture of popular treatises by the praiseworthy exertions of 
this Society. If, in fact, there is astir, a bustle, an activity in the communication 
and acquisition of knowledge — it science is raising her head where erst she 
durst not appear, it is mainly owing to the very general interest which has been 
excited by the institution of this Society. That it has done, much good, and will 
do more, is undeniable, and with the conviction that ignorance is the cause of 
more than half the evil we suffer in this world, and consequently that know- 
ledge can never become too cheap or be too generally diffused] we cordially 
desire to see this Society prosper ; and in the spirit of such a wish we say, 
£sto perpetua. 
let while we acknowledge the excellent effects which the silent and unosten- 
tatious proceedings of this Society is giving rise to, we cannot but regret that more 
parns have not been taken to produce works of sterling value. We do notwish our 
iea( cis to infer by 7 this remark that the treatises in question are not quite as good 
as any yet given to the public: on the contrary, we think in many respects they 
au. supenor, and, in one circumstance particularly, incomparably better adapted to 
j e purposes of the learner— we mean in the adoption of the practice of illustrat- 
ing subjects by wood cuts introduced amongst the text. But we think the oppor- 
worL— Mas favourable for superseding tbe cumbrous and not seldom erroneous 
in w , •? T ch we hllve hitherto been dependent, and for producing a new series 
iiich all the chaff and rubbish should be swept away, and nothing be found 
See his evidence before the House of Commons. 
