The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-28

TIL work OF originally published under th e It'll,
of II NEW AMERICAN CYCLOPKDIA
was completed in 1868, since which time the wtdt
circulation which 1t has attained in all parts OF
the United States, and the signal developments
which have taken place in every branch oil
science, literature, and art, have induced the
editors and publishers to submit it to an exact
and thorough revision, and to issue q new edition
entitled THE AMERICAN CYCLOPEDIA.
Within the last ten years the progress of dis
coyery in every department of knowledge has
made a new work of reference an imperative
want. 'a
The movement of political affairs has kept
pace with the discoveries of science, and their
fruitful application to the industrial and useful
arts and the convenience and refinement of social
life. Great wars and consequent revolutions
have occurred, involving national changes of
peculiar moment. The civil war of our own
country, which was at its height when the last
volume of the old work appeared, has happily
been ended, and n new course of commercial
and industrial activity has been commenced.
Large accessions to onr geographical nowl-
edge have been made by the indefatigable ex-
plorers of Africa.
The great political revolutions of the last de-
cade, with the natural result of the lapse Of time,
have brought into public view a multitude of
new men, whose names are in every ones mouth,
and of whose lives every one Is curious to know
the particulars. Great battles have been fought
and important sieges maintained, of which the
details are as yet preserved only in the news.
papers or In the transient publications of the
day, but which ought now to take their place In
permanent and authentic history.
In preparing the present edition for the press,
1t has accordingly been the aim of the editors to
bring down the ormat TO the latest posi-
BILE dates, and to furnish an accurate account OF
the most recent discoveries III science, of every
fresh production in literature. n of the newest
inventions in the practical arts, as wen as to
give a %succinct and original record of the pro.
gress of political and historical events.
The work has been begun after long and care
full preliminary labor, and with the most ample
resources for carrying it on to a successful ter.
mination.
None Of tn, original stereotype plates have
been used, bat every page has has been printed
on new type, forming in fact q new Cy~clopBdia,
with the same plan ind compass as its prede-
cessor, but with q far greater pecuniary expend-
iture, and with such improvements in its COM
position as have been suggested by longer exp
rience and enlarged knowledge.
The illustrations which are introduced for the
first time in the present edition have been added
greater lucidity and force to the explanations
in the text. They embrace all branches of
science and of natural history, and depict the
most famous and remarkable features of scene
ry, architecture, and art, as well as the various
processes of mechanics and manufactures.
Although intended for instruction rather than
embellishments, no pains have been spared to
insure their artistic excellence; the cost Of their
execution is enormous, and it is believed they
feature of the Cyclop@dia, and worthy of its
high character. .
This work is sold to Subscribers only, payable
on delivery of each volume. 1t will be COM
pleted in sixteen large octave volumes each con-
tanning about 800 pages, fully illustrated with
several thousand Wood Engravings, and with
numerous colored photographic Maps.