PREFACE. 
Vll 
Arts and Sciences, and containing a dense, accurate, and 
ample exhibition of our whole knowledge respecting them, 
might with the greatest advantage be comprehended in the 
limits of six large octavo volumes. It was accordingly 
decided that the undertaking should be entered upon 
with vigour and activity, at the same time that the 
utmost attention should be paid to the means by which 
alone it was possible to insure the value of the intended 
work. The year preceding its appearance was em- 
ployed in digesting the plan, establishing corresponden- 
cies, 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 consi- 
derable forwardness, and the whole arrangement was 
before the Editor, that the Proprietors thought them- 
selves enabled to disclose their views, and express their 
confidence in the public support. 
I . 
If the value of a composition of the magnitude and 
extent 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 ultimate voice of a discerning public. But when by 
-compilation from the works of authors, standing high in 
celebrity for knowledge and for talents; by the oc- 
casional abridgement and elucidation of the products of 
