Evidence as to Man's Place in Nature/end matter
THE
EDITED BY
GEORGE RIPLEY AND CHARLES A. DANA.
PUBLISHED BY
D. APPLETON & COMPANY, New York
In 16 Vols. 8vo, Double Columns, 750 Pages each.
Price, Cloth, $3.50; Sheep, $4; Half Mor., $4.50; Half Russia, $5 per Volume.
Every one that reads, every one that mingles in society, is constantly meeting with allusions to subjects on which he needs and desires further information. In conversation, in trade, in professional life, on the farm, in the family, practical questions are continually arising, which no man, well read or not, can always satisfactorily answer. If facilities for reference are at hand, they are consulted, and not only is the curiosity gratified, and the stock of knowledge increased, but perhaps information is gained and ideas are suggested that will directly contribute to the business success of the party concerned.
With a Cyclopædia, embracing every conceivable subject, and having its topics alphabetically arranged, not a moment is lost. The matter in question is found at once, digested, condensed, stripped of all that is irrelevant and unnecessary, and verified by a comparison of the best authorities. Moreover, while only men of fortune can collect a library complete in all the departments of knowledge, a Cyclopædia, worth in itself, for purposes of reference, at least a thousand volumes, is within the reach of all—the clerk, the merchant, the professional man, the farmer, the mechanic. In a country like ours, where the humblest may be called to responsible positions requiring intelligence and general information, the value of such a work can not be over-estimated.
PLAN OF THE CYCLOPÆDIA.
The New American Cyclopædia presents a panoramic view of all human knowledge, as it exists at the present moment. It embraces and popularizes every subject that can be thought of. In its successive volumes is contained an inexhaustible fund of accurate and practical information on Art and Science in all their branches, including Mechanics, Mathematics, Astronomy, Philosophy, Chemistry, and Physiology; on Agriculture, Commerce, and Manufactures; on Law, Medicine, and Theology; on Biography and History, Geography and Ethnology; on Political Economy, the Trades, Inventions, Politics, the Things of Common Life, and General Literature.
The Industrial Arts and those branches of Practical Science which have a direct bearing on our every-day life, such as Domestic Economy, Ventilation, the Heating of Houses, Diet, &c., are treated with the thoroughness which their great importance demands.
The department of Biography is full and complete, embracing the lives of all eminent persons, ancient and modern. In American biography, particularly, great pains have been taken to present the most comprehensive and accurate record that has yet been attempted.
In History, the New American Cyclopædia gives no mere catalogue of barren dates, but a copious and spirited narrative, under their appropriate heads, of the principal events in the annals of the world. So in Geography, it not only serves as a general Gazetteer, but it gives interesting descriptions of the principal localities mentioned, derived from books of travel and other fresh and authentic sources.
As far as is consistent with thoroughness of research and exactness of statement, the popular method has been pursued. The wants of the people in a work of this kind have been carefully kept in view throughout.
It is hardly necessary to add that, throughout the whole, perfect fairness to all sections of country, local institutions, public men, political creeds, and religious denominations, has been a sacred principle and leading aim. Nothing that can be construed into an invidious or offensive allusion has been admitted.
DISTINGUISHING EXCELLENCES.
While we prefer that the work should speak for itself, and that others should herald its excellences, we cannot refrain from calling attention to the following points, in which we take an honest pride in believing that the New American Cyclopædia surpasses all others:—
I. In Accuracy and Freshness of Information.—The value of a work of this kind is exactly proportioned to its correctness. It must preclude the necessity of having other books. Its decision must be final. It must be an ultimatum of reference, or it is good for nothing.
II. In Impartiality.—Our work has undergone the examination of Argus eyes. It has stood the ordeal. It is pronounced by distinguished men and leading reviews in all parts of the Union, strictly fair and national. Eschewing all expressions of opinion on controverted points of science, philosophy, religion, and politics, it aims at an accurate representation of facts and institutions, of the results of physical research, of the prominent events in the history of the world, of the most significant productions of literature and art, and of the celebrated individuals whose names have become associated with the conspicuous phenomena of their age—doing justice to all men, all creeds, all sections.
III. In Completeness.—It treats of every subject, in a terse and condensed style, but fully and exhaustively. It is believed that but few omissions will be found; but whatever topics may, through any oversight, be wanting, are supplied in an Appendix.
IV. In American Character.—The New Cyclopædia is intended to meet the intellectual wants of the American people. It is not, therefore, modelled after European works of a similar design; but, while it embraces all their excellences, has added to them a peculiar and unmistakable American character. It is the production mainly of American mind.
V. In Practical Bearing.—The day of philosophical abstraction and speculation has passed away. This is an age of action. Cui bono is the universal touchstone. Feeling this, we have made our Cyclopædia thoroughly practical. No man of action, be his sphere humble or exalted, can afford to do without it.
VI. In Interest of Style.—The cold, formal, and repulsive style usual in works of this kind, has been replaced with a style sparkling and emphatically readable. It has been the aim to interest and please, as well as instruct. Many of our writers are men who hold the foremost rank in general literature, and their articles have been characterized by our best critics as models of elegance, force, and beauty.
VII. In Convenience of Form.—No ponderous quartos, crowded with fine type that strains the eyes and wearies the brain, are here presented. The volumes are just the right size to handle conveniently; the paper is thick and white, the type large, the binding elegant and durable.
VIII. In Cheapness.—Our Cyclopædia has been universally pronounced a miracle of cheapness. We determined, at the outset, to enlarge its sphere of usefulness, and make it emphatically a book for the people, by putting it at the lowest possible price.
Such being the character of the New American Cyclopædia, an accurate, fresh, impartial, complete, practical, interesting, convenient, cheap Dictionary of General Knowledge, we ask, who can afford to do without it? Can the merchant, the statesman, the lawyer, the physician, the clergyman, to whom it gives thorough and complete information on every point connected with their several callings? Can the teacher, who is enabled, by the outside information it affords, to make his instructions doubly interesting and profitable? Can the farmer, to whom it offers the latest results of agricultural research and experiment? Can the young man, to whom it affords the means of storing his mind with useful knowledge bearing no any vocation he may have selected? Can the intelligent mechanic, who wishes to understand what he reads in his daily paper? Can the mother of a family, whom it initiates into the mysteries of domestic economy, and teaches a thousand things which more than saves its cost in a single year? In a word, can any intelligent American, who desires to understand the institutions of his country, its past history and present condition, and his own duties as a citizen, deny himself this great American digest of all human knowledge, universally pronounced the best Cyclopædia and the most valuable work ever published?
CONTRIBUTORS TO THE CYCLOPÆDIA.
The best talent in all parts of the country, and many distinguished foreign writers, have been engaged in the New American Cyclopædia. We give below the names of several of the most prominent contributors, from which the public may form some idea of the character of the work.
Hon. George Bancroft, LL.D., New York.
Hon. J. R. Bartlett, late U. S. and Mexican Boundary Commissioner, Providence, R. I.
Rev. Henry W. Bellows, D.D., New York.
Hon. Jeremiah S. Black, U. S. Attorney General, Washington, D. C.
Capt. George S. Blake, U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
Hon. Erastus Brooks, New York.
Edward Brown-Séquard, M.D., London.
John Esten Cooke, Esq., Richmond, Va.
Rev. J. W. Cummings, D.D., Pastor of St. Stephen's Church, New York.
Prof. James D. Dana, LL.D., Yale College, New Haven, Conn.
Hon. Charles P. Daly, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, New York.
Hon. Charles S. Davies, LL.D., Portland, Me.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Concord, Mass.
Hon. Edward Everett, Boston, Mass.
Pres. C. C. Felton, LL.D., Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
D. W. Fiske, Esq., Secretary of the Geographical and Statistical Society, New York.
Charles L. Flint, Esq., Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, Boston, Mass.
John W. Francis, M.D., LL.D.
Prof. Chandler E. Gilman, M.D., College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Prof. Henry Goadby, M.D., State Agricultural College of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Horace Greeley, Esq., New York.
George W. Greene, Esq., New York.
R. A. Guild, Esq., Librarian of Brown University, Providence, R. I.
Prof. Charles W. Hackley, D.D., Columbia College, New York.
Hon. James Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Gerard Hallock, Esq., editor of the "Journal of Commerce," New York.
Prof. A. W. Harkness, Brown University, Providence, R. I.
John R. G. Hassard, Esq., New York.
Charles C. Hazewell, Esq., Boston, Mass.
M. Heilprin, Esq., New York.
Richard Hildreth, Esq., author of "History of the United States," &c., New York.
Rev. Thomas Hill, President of Antioch College, Ohio.
Hon. George S. Hillard, Boston, Mass.
CONTRIBUTORS TO THE CYCLOPÆDIA.
J. S. Hittell, Esq., San Francisco, Cal.
James T. Hodge, Esq., Cooper Institute, New York.
Prof. L. M. Hubbard, D.D., University of N. C., Chapel Hill, N. C.
Rev. Henry N. Hudson, author of "Lectures on Shakespeare," &c., Litchfield, Conn.
Prof. S. W. Johnson, Yale College, New Haven, Conn.
J. C. G. Kennedy, Esq., Washington, D. C.
Hon. John B. Kerr, late U. S. Minister to Central America, Baltimore, Md.
Rev. T. Starr King, San Francisco, Cal.
Charles Lanman, Esq., Washington, D. C.
Charles G. Leland, Esq., Philadelphia, Pa.
Prof. James R. Lowell, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
R. Shelton Mackenzie, D.C.L., Philadelphia, Pa.
Rev. H. N. McTyeire, D.D., editor "Christian Advocate," Nashville, Tenn.
Charles Nordhoff, Esq., author of "Stories of the Island World," &c. New York.
Rev. Samuel Osgood, D.D., New York.
Prof. Theophilus Parsons, LL.D., Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
Prof E. R. Peasler, M.D., New York Medical College, New York.
John L. Peyton, Esq., Staunton, Ya.
William C. Prime, author of "Boat Life and Tent Life," &c., New York.
J. H. Raymond, LL.D., Principal of the Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn, New York.
George Schedel, Esq., late British Consular Agent for Costa Rica, Staten Island, N. Y.
Prof Alexander G. Schem, Dickinson College, Carlisle, Penn.
Hon. Francis Schroeder, Jr., late U. S. Minister to Sweden, Paris.
Hon. William H. Seward, U. S. Senator from New York, Auburn, N. Y.
William Gilmore Simms, LL.D., Charleston, S. C.
Prof. Henry B. Smith, D.D., Union Theological Seminary, New York.
Rev. J. A. Spencer, D.D., author of "The History of the United States," &c., New York.
Rev. William B. Sprague, D.D., Albany, N. Y.
Hon. E. G. Squier, author of "The States of Central America," "Nicaragua," &c.
Alex. W. Thayer, Esq., Berlin, Prussia.
John R. Thompson, Esq., editor "Southern Literary Messenger," Richmond, Va.
George Ticknor, LL.D., Boston, Mass.
Osmond Tiffany, Esq., Springfield, Mass.
R. T. Trall, M.D., author of "Hydropathic Encyclopædia," New York.
Baron De Trobriand, New York.
W. P. Trowbridge, Esq., U. S. Coast Survey, Washington, D. C.
Henry T. Tuckerman, Esq., New York.
Alexander Walker, Esq., editor of the "Delta," New Orleans.
Charles S. Weyman, Esq., New York.
Rev. W. D. Wilson, D.D., Hobart Free College, Geneva, N. Y.
E. L. Youmans, Esq., author of "The Hand-Book of Household Science," New York.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS AND DISTINGUISHED MEN.
In setting forth what the Press think of the New American Cyclopædia, we hardly know where to begin, so numerous and flattering are the notices it has received. We can only give here and there a brief extract from the leading Reviews and Journals, and letters from distinguished men, bearing for the most part on special features of the work.
The great arts of condensation, of clear perception, and striking exposition of the essential parts of their subject have been fully attained; and will give the reader a library of universal knowledge in a convenient compass, arranged for ready use, and attractively presented in the concise and perspicuous style appropriate to such a work.—Letter from the late Hon. Thos. H. Benton.
This work, instead of being a mere dictionary—a stupid epitome of dry facts and dates—is made up of attractive and readable matter; scholarly and sparkling essays; fresh biographies of living and dead celebrities; records of important discoveries and inventions; and information on every subject that has attracted the attention of man up to the present period.—Examiner, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
I feel quite sure that it will be marked by distinguished ability, and that, when concluded, it will be a vast storehouse of late and very important information—such a work as almost every intelligent person will be glad to have always near him for reference. I can only express the hope that so large an undertaking may be duly sustained, and crowned with ultimate success.—Letter from the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, (Prot. Epis.) Bishop of N. Y.
The editors have done their duty with justice, fairness, and liberality. We see no instance of partisanship or partiality, and, as yet, no proofs of that hostile sectionality of which we have hitherto had reason, in all such publications, to complain.—Mercury, Charleston, S. C.
We esteem it the best and most comprehensive Cyclopædia that has yet been issued from the press of this or any other country.—News, Savannah, Ga.
When completed, this Cyclopædia will be the most complete library of knowledge which has ever been given to the world in the same space since the art of printing was discovered.—Union, Rochester, N. Y.
Its freshness and general thoroughness give it a decided advantage over any other Cyclopædia of its class hitherto issued on either side of the Atlantic—Daily Times, N. Y.
It is a perfect treasury of knowledge. In all branches of the arts and sciences, in literature, history, biography, and geography.—Pilot, Boston, Mass.OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
men. Many of the papers deserve especial commendation, as presenting the latest developments in their various departments of research.—National Intelligencer, Washington, D. C.
Our own country has never before been so fairly or fully represented in any Cyclopædia. America, her resources, her literature, her politics, and her representative men receive in this work, at least, their full share of attention.—Post, Boston, Mass.
To enumerate one half of its excellences would require far more space than newspaper columns afford. To the professional man and the laborer, the citizen and the farmer, it is invaluable as an epitome of all useful knowledge.—Leader, Cleveland, O.
There is no conceivable topic which is not here discussed as fully as most persons would care to find it.—American Agriculturist.
It should be in every family, for in no other shape can so much useful information be obtained as cheaply. As a book of reference, it is invaluable.—Indiana Sentinel.
It is, without doubt, the most complete work of the kind ever published. To prepare it, the publishers have called into requisition the talent of some of the best men our country affords.—Pennsylvanian, Philadelphia, Pa.
There can be no doubt that, at least for the use of American readers, and in some respects wherever the English language is spoken, the Cyclopædia will greatly surpass, in its value as a reference book, any similar compilation that has yet been issued on either side of the Atlantic—North American Review.
Take it all in all—for the strict purposes of an Encyclopædia; for a clear survey of all the departments of human knowledge; for embracing every important topic in this vast range; for lucid and orderly treatment; for statements condensed yet clear; for its portable size—not being too large or too small; for convenience of reference, and for practical utility, especially to American readers; it is incomparally the best work in the English language.—N. Y. Evangelist.
It is a most extraordinary effort of genial scholarship and of multum in parvo erudition. We commend it as a book which the world has long wanted, and which will exert an incalculable influence in Europe as regards creating respect for solid American learning.—Telegraph, Harrisburgh, Pa.
It has been truly said that almost every man of note who ever lived and died, of whom there is record, has in it a place; every country, province race, and tribe; every sea, river, lake and island; every science, religion and, in short, almost every noun in the language, is descriptively illustrated in the most complete shape in which the information could be condensed.—Blade, Toledo, O.
The various subjects are not treated according to the mere routine of technical details, or in the settled formularies of professional science, but, while the information is full, thorough, and accurate, it is given in a genial and attractive
style.—Tribune, Mobile, Ala.