Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-07

IcoNoGRAPHIc ENCYCLOPEDIA Of Science, Ldtera-
ture, and Art; systematically arranged by G.
HECK Nth fee hundred quarfo steel plates, By he most
distinguished artists Of Germany The ezt translated and
edited By SPENCER r. BAIRD AM, Md, Assistant Sec
Tefary Of the Smithsonian Tnstituon. vots SUo (tezt)
and vols 40 Cpldtes.) New York: Rudolph Garrige,
publisher.
We have occasionally adverted to this elaborate and
magnificent work whilst it was in Of publication,
and made its appearance editorial table regularly
every month through the courtesy of friends TAYLOR
MAURY who the agents for its sale in this city 1t
is now completed and take pleasure in bespeaking
universal attention for this publication than which
more generally useful has under notice We
should like to it extend the sphere Of its usefulness to
the remotes parts Of country and take its pacen
every library, public prvate and with this view Of
fer to such of readers had opportunity
Of seeing the work itself the following short account of its
character and execution:
The Ipconographc Encyclopaedia, or in more popular
English the Encyclopedia Of Pictures embraces in its thou
sands Of engravings euey thing that be ictoraly repre-
sented giving clear vivid, and admirably executed pic
lures Of all the objects appertaining to the practical
knowledge OF the world past and present and conveying
accurate information in the most agreeable and most inn
pressve This endless Of pictures is
ranged in strictly systematic order five hundred plates
and grouped with degree Of arstcal taste not hereto
fore approached by the illustrations of any other work
The text which accompanies these plates consists Of
series ofmanuas calculating in concise but exceedingly
interesting language and with profuson OF
collateral detail the principles and history Of the objects
represented The plan Of the work excludes only the
provinces Of biography and speculative philosophy every
thing else is treated Of either separately in xion
with homogeneous subject. We find, therefore in
the conogaphc Encyclopaedia book that be trea
sure to every who cares for his improvement
that Of his children for in its pages and plates is
tanned westorcd family library including substantial
and sound information the principal physical facts which
under observation in practical life the sciences
mathematics and astronomy the physical laws of mcchan
les the theories Of sound light heat and Of all atmospheric
phenomena the natural history Of earth and it's
habtants its geography and history the modes Of
fare and Of navigation in the different ages the history of
architecture and Of the fine arts the mythologes Of oil
ons and the vast empire Of works Of technical execution
including railroads. canals aqueducts mining coming
rcuture &C. This immense wealth Of information s made
accessible by very indexes and lists contents by
which the book Is made equally Of reference and Of
useful reading. We know, indeed, Of which with
equal right claims prominent place in the libraries Of
families, and II Is impression that its intrinsic value
win introduce II to general wherever becomes known.
The publisher deserves great credit for the enterprise aud
displayed in undertaking the issue Of this
magnificent temple Of knowledge, and in carrying it out