Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1858-04-28
THE AMERICAN CYCLOPGDIA:

The AMERICAN CYCLOPGDIA:
popular dictionary Of general knoeedge. Ed
i'ed by GEORGE RIPLEY and CHARLES A DANA
VOL 1st. A-Ardguay. Neao York, d. APPLETON,
& Co., 1885,
We have copied above the title of a work which
we desire to commend to our readers. This vol
ume. containing about 75O pages is the first of Sc
rcs, which is designed embrace in the compass of
about fifteen volumes, and to present in a popular
form all the leading facts and principles of human
knowledge. 1t is not intended to contain thorough
treatises for the use of minute and patient schol-
lars. much to furnish the general reader with
information sufficient for all ordinary purposes, and
to suggest and stimulate, and, in good degree to
satisfy the inquiries such persons may be expected
to make. The undertaking is very great and i'm.
portant one and is highly credtable to the enter.
prise Of the Publishers, while it demonstrates their
large resources.
The work has been entrusted to very competent
hands. The names of the Editors are guarantee
that the work will be faithfully conducted and the
very numerous assistants they employ, to whom
special subjects committed have been carefully
chosen with reference to their knowledge of such
subjects and their ability 20 treat them well. The
paper, typography. &c. Of this volume in excel.
lent keeping with the general character of the work.
After rather careful examination of it. we do not
hesitate to advise those Of readers who may de-
sire work Of this kind, full and minute enough for
all common uses, and yet not so copious to alarm
by its size its cosness to subscribe for Apple
tons New American Cyclopoedia.
| Works Of this sort are, Of course novelty
We have them in every form, and Of every dmen-
| sion, from the Metropolitan and the BRITANNICA
with their numerous quartos and haus,ive dis
cussions down to simple scientific dictionaries of a
single duodecimo The one which this most nearly
resembles is the Encyclopedia Americana. Edited
by DR.. Leiber and published in Philadelphia, not
far from twenty years ago. Were there. however,
other for a one, sufficient reason
might be found in the rapid progress of invention
and discovery since that time, and in the fact that
these twenty years have added many strange and
| striking events to the worlds history.
This work is, however. by means reissue of
an cd one, modified and improved to suit the
ward movement Of the times. Many of its facts
and statements are, Of course, not new. The max
els of this were too wise not to use all the wisdom
and labors Of those who have gone before them
But all the articles have bc,n thoroughly revised;
they manly taken from former works, and these
even, as well as the new titles, have been written
a remarkable sprigh,iness i'm the tone of the arti.
cles The main object of Cyclopoeda is simply to
convey information. the most precise, acurate, and
full that be given within the prescribed com.
pass Brevity and condensation, therefore, are
qualities the most needed and of the highest excel.
lence. And all this may be attained, and there is
always danger it will be- in articles dry to be
repulsve But in this work due regard has certain.
ly been paid to style; and. though we do not con-
suit all Encyclopedia much to be amused as to
be instructed, thankful to the authors Of this
one, for having given much information in SC
! entertaining way. 1t may be truly said and the
same can be said Of few of its kind, that it is eln
nently ,eadaGle.
One feature which should aid to give it currency
is the introduction of biographical sketches Of living
men. Our readers may be on the lookout for iht
appearance in its pages Of their their neigh
bor's names. Due notice is taken. Of two rccen
Governors Of South. Carolina Aiken, and Allston.
There are a few articles in this volume in which
there is a reference to own State; brief sketcl
of the lives of Gov. Alexander. and Of Willis Alston
o notice of Alamance and Anson counties and o
Alligator Swamp. We do not doubt that futur
volumes will speak much Of us dimension
i'm history and on the globe deserve. We repeat ou
opinion that our readers will find this a very inter
esling and valuable work, and they who it vii
be many times repaid its cost.
, PASSPORTS TO MEN OF Color Senator Wilson re
Gently applied at the State Department for a pass
port for d. j. S. Rock. colored man, Of Boston
and received the following reply from the Secretary
. DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
: Washington April O. 1858
To the Hon. Henry Wilson, Senate Chamber
SR-I have had the honor to receive your not
of yesterday with its accompanyments.