Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-15
G0ltur' Gable.

~ ~" -A'iH@iCAN OfCLoPEDIA: n POPULAR
DICTIONARY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. Edited
Dy GEORGE RIPLEY & CHARLES A. DANA. Vol
l.. A-ARAGuAy. New York, D. Appleton
90, 1858. F. s. Martin, Williamstown
Agent for Vermont.
This work when completed according to its
plan 50 admirably accomplished in the few
parts which have already appeared, will form
in itself library of reference, and if it does
not fully supply in copiousness, will on all sub
Jects guide to what is wanted. In this
respect the possession of it will be better to
most than that of ten thousand books, becaus e
no individual if he had them, could examine
them all, or sift out what he wished, without
much labor, while this from the employment of
multitude of hands, and from consulting the
best authorities, will compress, classify and az
range all knowledge. 1t will be great i'm
provemeut upon works of the same kind here
tofore issued.
In the department of science so great have
been the advances and discoveries within very
few years that the works which have gone be-
letter, The laborious Reefs Cycopledia -
has long been supplanted, while the Dfitish and
American Cyclopmdias which haM since fol-
lowed, have been written in so heavy and scho.
lastic style that they are unsuted TO the not
deep, but widespread Investigations of the
common people. Herein we think that this
work, carried out as began, thought should be
succeeded by a better, will accomplish wonders
Its articles are lively, popular, and interesting
upon whatever topic; written in no Anticipated
dialect, but in the language now current, and
which smacks of every day life. The principles
by which the collaborators have been guided
are worthy of commentator. The carly
French works Of this kind were vehicles for the
infdelity of Voltaire and his associates. This
aims at an accurate and impartial account of
the development of opinion in the exercise of
thought, of the result of physical research, of
the prominent events in the history of the world,
of the most sifnfcant productions of ltera-
ture and art, and of the celebrated individuals
whose names have become associated with the
conspicuous phenomena of their age. So far
we have guarantee that it will not be made
use of for the expression of mere personal no.
tions, and that nothing noxious will be conceal
ed or insinuated in it's many pages under the
disguise of General Cyclopedia of Universal
knowledge. At the same time, while this i'm
partality will be observed and personal views
will not be Dramatically asserted, each subject
will be treated as it properly should be in the
point of view of those with whom it is speci-
ality, and in order to secure the most complete
justice, the various articles have been ntrusted
to writer's whose studies, position, opinions and
tastes would afford Il presumption of their
thorough information. In the different branch
es of science articles have been prepared by
men of eminent accomplishments in ca oh of the
respective departments those on History by
historical students in special provinces on BIZ
ography, especially of living persons, by those
most familiar with the life and character of the
subjects; on Military and Naval Affairs, by
military and naval men; on Technology and
neSrs, and on the History and Doctrines of the
Church by theologians Of the different Chris
tian denominations in the most intimate rela-
tions with the topics under treatment.
While exhaustive treatises on the subjects
which are brought forward in its pages would
be inappropriate, popular method will not be
pursued at the expense of thoroughness of re-
search or exactness of statement on such topics
as seem to demand more elaborate treatment
especially those connected with modern scientific
discoveries, improvements in the practical art
of life, the principles of Physiology and Hy
giene, American History, Biography and Geog
raphy. These views as incorporated in the
preface will best serve to illustrate the general
design of the work.
Vol |. extending to Ain the department
of Biography alone, contains articles on thu
following celebrated names of the present
or very recent day ADD Ell KADER, ABDU
MEDJID, ABERDEEN, JOHN Quincy ADAMS
AcAssIz +; interesting treatises on Agriculture
Agricultural Schools, and Agricultural Chem
istry; while the article on ADVERTISEMENT wit
the facts and statistics which it embedes OF
that subject almost down to the very hour il
which we write, will show the novel interes
which must attach to a work of this kind car
ried out in all it's successive numbers accordin
to such popular plan; and embracing as
will all the immense results of modern mate
rial development.
Mr.. T. 1t will cost the class of one hun
bred literary co-workers many months of harc
labor to advance as far as this in the alphabet
they being as yet only A-B-C-D-arlans, bu
when they have done SO, we may look for
biography of MORSE, and for history of Raj
ROADS and TELEGRAPHs more complete than an
which has yet been written. Former Cycl(
p@dias have had something to say of CABAL
we shall here find more than a definition undt
the head of CABLE. COTTON GIN has alread
been treated of, and STEAMBOAT, likewise, Blu
STEAMSHIP has not NEWSPAPER has had but
scanty share of notice, for think of the Londo
Times, or New York Tribune as they we
twenty years ago, and as they are now.
y When the Editors get as far as 7, we hoE
they will entrust an article on til, late ZADocl
THOMPSON, State Geologist of Vermont, to son
one who will do justice to the memory of
man whose extraordinary modesty and retcen
were only equaled by his substantial acquir
ments in the departments OF general Science.
lie was not unknown either to Hugh Miller,
Agassiz, and whether noticed or not, his mar
will live. His really magnificent collection
Illustrative of the animal, vegetable and miner