The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-13 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

ENCYCL OPiEDIA BRITANNICA,
VoL. IX. PART H. Seventh Edition.

Black, Edinburgh ; Hamilton, Adams, and Co., London.
When a work of this magnitude and expense has ar-
rived at a seventh edition, it has nothing to hope or to
fear from criticism, having got to that state of beati-
tude, in which it may dispense with praise and laugh
at censure. It is not the less our duty to notice the
appearance of this section, and recommend it strenu-
ously to our readers, though we are happily exempted
from the task of criticising so comprehensive a pro-
duction. In fact, the " Encyclopiedia Britannica" con-
tains within itself a library, and, unfortunately, so nar-
row are the limits of the human faculties, that it sup-
plies more than enough to satisfy the appetite of the
most laborious individual. If we recollect rightly, it
was the celebrated Friar Bacon who complained that
all the existing knowledge of the age could be learnt
without difficulty in a single twelvemonth. What,
then, becomes of the boast of those who refer the merit
of all knowledge to antiquity ? Within little more than
six hundred years, the astounding fabric of science has
been built up, and, so gigantic in its extent, that no
single life, however unwearied its industry, however
piercing may be its genius, can hope to grapple with it.
But though it is rarely possible for individual talent
to make itself truly master of more than one science,

the daily intercourse of society will often demand a
partial acquaintance with many : there is scarcely any
class of men, except the mere artists, so exclusive, as
not to have some relish for acquirements beyond the
limits of their immediate pursuit ; they feel that the
pedantry of any profession is detestable, and will not
think particular knowledge an excuse for general igno-
rance. To such readers, a work like the " Encyclo-
paedia Britannica" is invaluable. There is no art or
science on which it does not afford abundant informa-

tion, and they will at once find what, without such aid,
they might have had some difficulty in looking for. It
may, perhaps, be objected to this epitome of human
knowledge, that it sometimes pays too much respect to
the intelligence of its readers, and addresses them rather
as an adept speaking to adepts, than as a lecturer con-
veying instruction to his pupils ; in other words, on the
abstruser subjects, it is not always quite so elementary
as it might be. It is, however, exceedingly difficult to
fix the precise point where a teacher of this high order
should commence his lessons.

This .part has been evidently got up with the same
care and attention that characterized the earlier num-
bers. Even in its more imperfect state this was a
splendid and important work, but its value is ten-fold
increased in the present edition by the supplement
being incorporated with the text, and by the general
vein of improvement that runs through the whole, under
the superintending care of its distinguished editor.
Thus, under the head of " Fortification," there is an
account of the late siege of Antwerp, which practi-
cally illustrates a highly interesting subject. The ar-
ticle on " Fezzan" is considerably improved by addi-

tions from the accounts of later travellers. And in the
admirable paper on the " Fisheries" is much new and
valuable matter. This last is a subject we should
like well to discuss, did we not fear it might lead us
too far a-field ; but we really would recommend to our
legislators, instead of addling their brains with Sab-
bath laws, and laws against drunkenness, to devote a
few evenings to this important branch of the national
wealth. We do not by this mean to express the least
desire for their protecting duties and their bounties ;
these have always done more harm than good ; but the
tolls might be taken off the carriage of fish, the im-
provident destruction of the spawn might be prevented,
and privileges needed not be granted to French and
other foreign fishermen in British harbours, which are
denied to our seamen on the opposite coast.
It would be absurd to fancy, that by any single ex-
tract, or even by many extracts, we could convey to the
reader an adequate idea of this volume ; if we indulge
then in any quotation, it is more with the view of af-
fording amusement to the curious than from any idea
of selecting a specimen, and with this object we open
the book almost at random—" Feasts I"—it could not

have chanced more luckily for our purpose ; the lovers
of good cheer will owe us thanks for supplying them
with so eloquent an apology for indulging in the plea-
sures of the table :

" As food is necessary to our existence, eating together
forms a bond of association among mankind. People at a feast,
says one of the ancients, seem to form but one body and one
soul. All nations, whether savage or civilized, have regarded
the pleasures of the table as the occasion of the most agreeable
society. This species of enjoyment, abstracting from its sus-
ceptibility of abuse, makes but one family of all whom it brings
together. It levels the distinctions introduced by policy or
prejudice, and disposes men to regard one another as brethren.
It is here that people feel the equality established by nature,
forget the evils of life, extinguish their hatred, and cause their
enmities to cease. For this reason Aristotle considers as a breach
of the social principle the custom of eating apart which ob-
tained amongst the ancient Egyptians, and praises the convi-
vial repasts established by Minos and Lycurgus.
• " The Persians generally deliberated on business at table,
but never determined or put their determinations in execution
except in the morning before having eaten.
" When the Germans, says Tacitus, wanted to reconcile
enemies, to form alliances, to appoint chiefs, or to treat of war
and peace, it was during the repast that they took counsel ; a
time in which the mind is most open to the impressions of
simple truth, or most easily animated to great attempts. These
artless people during the conviviality of the feast spoke with-
out disguise, and next day weighed the counsels of the former
evening ; they deliberated at a time when they were not dis-
posed to deceive, and took- their resolution when they were
least liable to be deceived.
" By a fundamental law of the state, people of rank among
the Rhodians were obliged to dine daily with those who had
the management of affairs, in order to deliberate with them
concerning such things as were necessary or useful for the
country ; and on this account the principal ministers of the
kingdom were obliged to keep open table for all who could be
of service to the state.
" Amongst the Romans, the place where they supped was
generally the vestibule, lest a more retired part of the house
should encourage licentiousness and disorder. There were
several laws which restricted their meals to the vestibule.
But when luxury reigned at Rome, the wealthy had superb
halls for their entertainments. Lucullus had many, each of
which bore the name of some deity ; and this was a mark which
indicated to the servants the expense of the entertainment.
The expense of a supper in Lucullus's hall of Apollo amounted
to fifty thousand drachmas. The hall in which Nero feasted
imitated the revolutions of the heavens, by the circular motion
of its walls and its ceiling ; and representing the different sea-
sons of the year, changing at every course, and showering
down flowers and perfumes on the guests.
" The' Romans did not, like us, confine themselves to one
table at their feasts ; they had generally two ; one for the
service of animal food, which was afterwards removed ; and
another for the dessert, at which last they sung, and poured
out their libations. The Greeks and eastern nations observed
the same custom, and even the Jews in their solemn feasts and
at sacrifices.
" The Romans, in the time of Nero, had tables made of
citron-wood brought from Mauritania, which were covered
with purple and gold, and raised on feet of carved ivory. It
is said that these tables were more precious than gold itself.
Dion Cassius affirms that Seneca had five hundred of these,
which he made use of one after another ; and Tertullian in-
forms us that Cicero had only one. The Romans usually chose
the king of the feast, or chairman as we would call him, by a
cast of the dice.
"We learn from Herodotus that the ancients had neither
cups nor bowls, but drank out of little horns tipped with silver
or gold.
" The Greeks and Romans kept a domestic for the purpose
of reading during their meals and feasts. The head of
the family sometimes performed the office of reader himself ;
and we learn that the Emperor Severus often read whilst his
family sat or rather reclined at table. The time of reading
was generally at supper ; and guests were invited to a reading,
as they are now-a-days to play cards. -In their flourishing
days the Greeks did not, to use their own expression, profane
the sanctity of the table, but rather adorned it with ingenious
and elegant conversation, proposing moral topics, of which
Plutarch has preserved a collection. Ancient philosophers
have remarked that heroes rarely assembled convivially with-
out bringing affairs of consequence into discussion, or delibe-
rating upon those which regarded either present ;ffairs or fu-
ture contingencies.
" When Rome became corrupted with luxury, singers, dan-
cers, musicians, stage-players, and people who told pleasant
tales, were brought into the hall to amuse the guests. Pin-
:7_4'omo us that Caesar, after his triumphs, treated the
tarch.
Roman people at tr,..
wo
-,anty-t thousand tables ; and by calcula-