Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 8.djvu/207

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ENCYCLOPEDIA 197 Cross references generally give not only the article : referred to, but also the volume and column, and, when necessary, such brief information as may distinguish the j word referred to from others similar but of different meaning. Lists of authorities, often long, exact, and ; valuable, are frequently appended to the articles. This i work, which is well and carefully compiled, and very trustworthy, is still a most valuable book of reference on many subjects, especially topography, genealogy, and biography. The genealogies and family histories are excellent, and many particulars are given of the lives and works of authors not easily found elsewhere. A work on a new plan was published by Dennis de Coetlogon, a Frenchman naturalized in England, who styled himself "Knight of St Lazare, M.D., and member of the Royal Academy of Angers," An Universal History of Arts and Sciences, London, 1745, fol. 2 vols., 2529 pages, 33 plates, and 161 articles arranged alphabetically. He " endeavours to render each treatise as complete as possible, avoiding above all things needless repetitions, and never puzzling the reader with the least reference." Theology is divided into several treatises; Philosophy into Ethicks, Logick, and Metaphysick, each under its letter ; and Physick is subdivided into Anatomy, Botany, Geography, Geometry, &c. Military Art is divided into Army, Fortification, Gunnery. The royal licence is dated 13th March 1740-1, the dedication is to the duke of Gisors, the pages are numbered, there is an appendix of 35 pages of astronomical tables, and the two indexes, one to each volume, fill 69 pages, and contain about 9000 subjects. The type is large and the style diffuse, but the subject matter is sometimes curious. The author says that his work is the only one of the kind, and that he wrote out with his own hand every line, even the index. But not withstanding the novelty of his plan, his work does not seem ever to have been popular. Gianfrancesco Pivati, born at Padua in 1689, died at Venice in 1764, secretary of the Academy of Sciences at Venice, who had published in 1744 a 4to volume contain ing a Dizionario imiverscde, wrote Nuovo dizionario scientijico e curloso sacro-profano, Venezia, 1746-51, fol. 10 vols., 7791 pages, 597 plates. It is a general encyclopaedia, including geography, but not history or biography. He gives frequent references to his authorities and much curious information. His preliminary discourse (80 pages) contains a history of the several sciences from mathematics j to geography. The book was published by subscription, j and at the end of the last volume is a Catalogo dei Signori Associate, 252 in number, who took 266 copies. It is also re markable for the number of its plates, which are engraved on copper. In each volume they are placed together at the end, and are preceded by an explanatory index of subjects refer ring to the plates and to the articles they illustrate. One of the greatest and most remarkable literary enter prises of the 18th century, the famous French Encyclopedia, originated in a French translation of Chambers sCyctojwdia, begun in 1743, and finished in 1745 by John Mills, an Englishman resident in France, assisted by Gottfried Sellius, a very learned native of Dantzic, who, after being a pro fessor at Halle and Gottingen, and residing in Holland, had settled in Paris. They applied to Lebreton, the king s printer, to publish the work, to fulfil the formalities required by French law, with which, as foreigners, they were not acquainted, and to solicit a royal privilege. This he obtained, but in his own name alone. Mills complained so loudly and bitterly of this deception that Lebreton had to acknowledge formally that the privilege belonged en toute prnpru-te to John Mills. But, as he again took care not to acquaint Mills with the noces-ary legal formalities, this title soon became invalid. Mills then agreed to grant him part of his privilege, and in May 1745 the work was announced as Encyclopedic ou Dictionnaire Universd des Arts et des Sciences, folio, four volumes of 250 to 260 sheets each, with a fifth of at least 120 plates, and a voca bulary or list of articles in French, Latin, German, Italian, and Spanish, with other lists for each language explained in French, so that foreigners might easily find any article wanted. It was to be published by subscription at 135 livres, but for large paper copies 200 livres, the first volume to be delivered in June 1746, and the two last at the end of 1748. The subscription list, which was considerable, closed 31st December 1745. Mills demanded an account, which Lebreton, who had again omitted certain formalities, insultingly refused. Mills brought an action against him, but before it was decided Lebreton procured the revocation of the privilege as informal, and obtained another for him self dated 21st January 1746. Thus, for unwittingly con travening regulations with which his unscrupulous publisher ought to have made him acquainted, Mills was despoiled of the work he had both planned and executed, and had to return to England. Jean Paul de Gua de Malves, professor of philosophy in the college of France (born at Carcassonne in 1713, died 15th June 1785), was then engaged as editor merely to correct errors and add new discoveries. But he proposed a thorough revision, and obtained the assistance of many learned men and artists, among whom Desessarts names Louis, Condillac, D Alembert, and Diderot, But the publishers did not think his reputation high enough to ensure success, withheld their confidence, and often opposed his plans as too expensive. Tired at last of disputes, and too easily offended, De Gua resigned the editorship. The publishers, who had already made heavy advances, offered it to Diderot (born October 1713, died 30th July 1784), who was probably recommended to them by his very well received Dictionnaire Universel de Medicine, Paris, 1746- 48, fol. 6 vols., published by Briasson, David, and Durard, with notes and additions by Julien Busson, doctor regent of the faculty of medicine of Paris. It was a translation, made with the assistance of Eidous and Toussaint, of the cele brated work of Dr Robert James, inventor of the fever powders, A Medicinal Dictionary, London, 1743-45, fol. 3 vols., 3275 pages and 98 plates, comprising a history of drugs, with chemistry, botany, and natural history so far as they relate to medicine, and with an historical preface of 99 pages (in the translation 136). The proposed work was to have been similar in character. De Gua s papers were handed over to Diderot in great confusion. He soon per suaded the publishers to undertake a far more original and comprehensive work. His friend D Alembert undertook to edit the mathematics. Other subjects were allotted to 21 contributors, each of whom received the articles on this sub ject in Mill s translation to serve as a basis for his work. But they were in most cases so badly composed and trans lated, so full of errors and omissions, that they were not used. The contributions were to be finished in three months, but none were ready in time, except Music by Rousseau, which he admits was hastily and badly done. Diderot was imprisoned at Vincennes, 29th July 1749, for his Lett re sur les Aveugles. He was closely confined for 28 days, and was then for three months and ten days a prisoner on parole in the castle. This did not stop the printing, though it caused delay. The prospectus by Diderot appeared in November 1750. The work was to form 8 vols. fol., with at least 600 plates. The first volume was published in July 1751, and delivered to the subscribers in August. The second appeared in January 1 752. An arret of the council, 9th February, suppressed both volumes as inju rious to the king s authority and to religion. Malesherbes, director-general of the Librairie, stopped the issue of

volume ii., 9th February, and on the 21st went with a