Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-04-24


THE AMERidAlNll cYeI oPGDIA:
a pcpllef diet;oresyss ysasvas xsesssdge II.
sted s6g GEoRaE RsFLx "a CHABass. RASAs
Yol lat A-Areosay. Nov York b
4 Co., 1853 IS 4 S. ~
we have copied above the title Of work which
We desire to commend to our readers This vol.
ume. containing about $50 pages is the first Of Be-
riss, which Is designed to embrace IN the compass of
about fifteen volumes aud to present in popular
form all the leading facts and principles Of human
knowledge. It is not intended to contain thorough
treat'ses Tor the use of minute and patient schol
lars 80 much as to furnish tho 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 a very great and i'm
portant one, and is highly credtable to the enter.
prise of the Publishers, while it demonstrates their
large resources.
Inc 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 are committed, have been carefully
chosen with reference to their knowledge of such
subjects, and their ability to treat them we'll. The
paper Typography, &C., Of this volume are 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 our readers who NAV de-
sire work of this kind full and minute enough for
all common uses, and yet not copious to alarm
by its size or its costliness to subscribe for Apple.
toms New American Cyclopoedia.
Works of this sort are, of course, no novelty
We have them in every form, and of every dimen-
sion, from the Metropolitan and the Britannica,
with their numerous quartos and exhaustive dis.
cussions, down to simple scientific dictionaries of
single duodecimo. The one which this most nearly
resembles is the Encyclopedias Americana, Edited
by DR.. Leiber, and published in Philadelphia, not
far from twenty years ago. Were there, however,
no other reasons for a new one, a 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 no means a reissue of
an old one, modified and improved to suit the on
ward movement of the times. Many of it's facts
and statements are, of course, not new. The max
ers 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 been thoroughly revised
they manly taken from former works, and these
even, as well as the new titles, have been written
anew expressly for this work. One result of this is
remarkable sprightliness in the tone of the arti-
cles. The main object Of Cyclopadia is simply to
convey information, the most precise, accurate, and
full that can 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 SO dry as to be
repulsve. But in this work due regard has certain.
ly been paid to style; and, though we do not con.
suit an Encyclopedia SO much to be amused as to
be instructed, thankful the authors of this
entertaining way. 1t may be truly said. and thu
same can he eaid of few of its kind, that it is emf
| nently readaOe. -----
is the introduction of biographical sketches of living
men. Our readers may be on the lookout for tn,
appearance in its pages of their their neigh
boris names. Due notice is taken of two recen
Governors of South-Carolina, Aiken, and Allston.
There few articles in this volume in which
there is reference to our own State; brief sketc
of the lives of Gov. Alexander, and of Willis Aston
| notice of Alamance and Arson countless and G
Alligator Swamp. We do not doubt that futur
volumes will speak as much of US our dimension
in history and on the globe deserve We repeat on
opinion that our readers will find this very int,
esting and valuable work, and they who use it wi
be many times repaid its cost
| WI. .,zs.,t H. r.tk.nJ.,