Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-08-23
The New American CycIorpdta.

The third volume of this highly successful
work has been for some days before us. 1t is
excellent in various ways. Its positive, in
iriDsic merits are great, where the preceding
volumes were good it is better: and it indi-
Gates such an increasing editorial watchful-
ness and ability as to warrant high expecta-
tions of the publication as whole. We con-
tess ourselves not a little interested in the
proper execution of the task which Messrs.
RIPLEY and DANA have assumed; and we won
der somewhat at the Indifference shown by
few of our more influential contemporaries
toward a work which will be inevitably
look d upon as a fair exponent of the stan
lard of American attainment in the various
departments of science and letters.
The present volume, although the third of
fifteen, is occupied by only part of the let
ter B.-from Beam 10 BrOlcni9g; and this
renews an apprehension which we have before
cXpr, ssed that in the middle and latter vol
umes the articles will necessarily be subiec-
ted to dispropOrtionate curtailment The
editors however must now be fully awake TO
this danger, and prepared for it; but if they
do produce work entirely symmetrical in
this respect, it will be the first time. we
ell. in serial publication, within the compass
of a predetermined number of volumes.
Should a curtaiment be found necessary, ii
may be made with most propriety and adVan-
tage in the department of American biOcra-
ply. We know that it is intended-and with
great fitness-that the Ne.c american Cyclopg-
dia shall be quite full in this department; aud
would not see one jot of its particularly
in this respect diminished with regard to those
N.hn haCa e.
in any walk of life or attached their names
inseparably to any great interest, or even re-
commended an excessive retcence as to per-
sons who have attained bad eminence. But
the editors might with advantage be much
more exclusive than they are What for in
stance, is the claim of PRESrON s. Brooks to
nearly half a page in any encyclopaedia?
But we turn to some of the MANY note
worthy articles in the present volume. Pro
minent among these is that on Beauty. which
presents with great clearness all the various
theories of the beautiful that have been adj
vanced from the time of PLATo to that of
HEGEL; and which, if its definition that
beauty is 1.-The quality of objects which gives
delight to the aesthetic faculty." he unsatis-
factory, is in that respect only like all other
articles that have ever been written upon the
subject. The beauty of objects NAV be
described; but abstract beauty has yet to be
defined.
The articles Bee and Bee-keepipq are among
the finest papcrs upon subjects of their kind
that we have met with;-tull in details sys-
tematic in arrangement, and simple ard clear
in style. They will be found interesting to
all readers, and filed with information of
great value to those who are or may become
bee-keepers. There ARE several articles of this
nature in the present volume;-among them
are Bots Broom-corn Bieach1sg.. Bior-pipe.
The article, Bible, gives an admirable des-
cription of the scored volume, and very
comprehensive though compact history of the
vicissitudes through which its text has pas
sed during many centuries and in various
tongues. With rudence and not little
skill il keeps entirely clear of all the doc
trinal and practical questions with which the
subject would seem To be inextricably involv-
ed. A Jew or Christian, and among
Christians, an ultramontane Roman Catholic
or Unitarian of the most .latitudinarian
views. may read the article, and fluid in il no
ground of offence. except perhaps in the
omission of something that would provoke
the resentment of the holder of AN opposite
creed. The articles photography and Bibtio-
mama are excellent in their kind. and filed
with the fruits OF wide and various study.
The former contains an enumeration of the
most valuable works in it's department which
may be consulted with great profit by persons
who are afflicted with the incurable disease
treated of in the latter. The cognate article
upon Book6.nd,1sg exhibits thorough knowl-
edge of the suojcet, il full and exact in its
description, and may be protitably read by all
those who are particular about the appear
ance and stability OF their libraries. Ga
Bootsoliisg tn re is also an article containing
mass of very Interesting Information upon
this important branch of trade, which, we
believe, is not accessible in any other volume.
Among the important articles which give
evidence of having been prepared by writers
who have made their subjects special studies.
are BLVD, Blood, Botany and Bran, which,
recording the results OF the very lat inves-
LEGATIONS Of science, give such full informa-
ton Upon their respective topics that he who
wishes 10 know more must himself become an
investigator.
Biography has been mentioned as a DEPART
ment in which this CyelJpedia exceIs; and
upon biography there is all article In which
the photography of the sub. ct IL exhausted.
The biographical articles in this volume main
tain the eminence of the work In this respect.
The series upon the BoSArARrE family is 4
noble one; but the opinion with which that
upon NAPOLEON ends, that he Possessed. per-
haps, the moft lofty and commanding iutel-
lect ever given 10 a human being VIII Hhd
many dissenters from il extravaganee. The
article upon CHARLOTTE BRoSrg. although
too minute in It's details. aud Ia our opiRioa,
pitched througbou in too laudatory key. Is
perhaps the best sketch thai has b en- written
Of the career of that remarkable and gifted
Woman This il also true Of the article upon
EI.z.B srB BARRET BRowsIsG; while thai up