Complex sentence: The 18-volume third edition of the "Encyclopædia Britannica" began to be published in 1788 in Scotland, and was well received; it was by far the best edition of the "Britannica" to date, and remained so until roughly the 7th edition.
Split into simpler sentences: The 18-volume third edition of the "Encyclopædia Britannica" began to be published in 1788 in Scotland, and was well received. It was by far the best edition of the "Britannica" to date, and remained so until roughly the 7th edition.