Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Library of Universal Knowledge, Vol. 1 of 15: A Reprint of the Last (1880) Edinburgh and London Edition of Chambers's Encyclopaedia, With Copious Additions by American Editors
The original plan, as exemplified in the first volume, has been strictly adhered to throughout: and if, as the work proceeded, there has been any change in the method or quality of the execution. It may at least be affirmed that the change has not been for the worse. After some experience, it became easier to find the person specially qualified to write a particular kind of article, and thus the circle of contributors became widened, and the distribution of the work more specialized. It was also seen to be desirable, in regard to certain classes of subjects, to admit a rather ampler selection of heads. This has been effected without increasing the scale of the work, not so much by less full treatment of the subjects, as by increased care in condensing the statements and omit ting everything super?uous.
It will be Observed that in the earlier volumes there' are fewer notices of places than in the later. These and other deficiencies in the Geographical department have, as far as possible, been remedied in the supplement; so that the encyclopedia forms a complete Gazetteer. The minuteness of a special geographical dictionary is, of course, not to be expected: with regard to towns, for instance, it maybe well to state, in order to prevent disappointment, that, as a rule, no place with a population under 3000 in the United Kingdom, or under 5000 in other parts Of the world, need be looked for under its own name, unless it be historically or otherwise noteworthy. But towns, rivers, etc., of secondary importance mentioned anywhere in the work find a place in the Index, 9nd thus a clue is given to some information regarding them, were it only their where abouts on the map.
In like manner, in the department of Biography, the limited scale of the work made it necessary to exclude many names which would be deserving of record in an exhaust ive biographical dictionary. The intention has been to include only the more prominent actors and thinkers, dead and living, especially such as have attained extensive celebrity. The difficulty of making such a selection is known only to those who have tried it; and the Editors were prepared to have the judiciousness of their choice frequently ques tioned. In settling relative claims to distinction, the judgment depends much on the Special pursuits or sphere of thought of the judge. Of the omitted names to which attention has been kindly called by correspondents, several have, on reconsideration, been introduced into the supplement.
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