Volume 1

The new complete dictionary of arts and sciences; or, an universal system of useful knowledge. The theological, philosophical, critical, and poetical branches / by the Rev. Erasmus Middleton ... the medicinal, chemical, and anatomical, by William Turnbull ... the gardening and botanical, by Thomas Ellis ... the mathematical, etc. by John Davison.

Date:
1778
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The new complete dictionary of arts and sciences; or, an universal system of useful knowledge. The theological, philosophical, critical, and poetical branches / by the Rev. Erasmus Middleton ... the medicinal, chemical, and anatomical, by William Turnbull ... the gardening and botanical, by Thomas Ellis ... the mathematical, etc. by John Davison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE TF to be wife is to be happy: How very defireable mud: thofe Means be, that M have a manifeft Tendency to facilitate our Purfuits after Wifdom 3 becaufe they bring us to Happinefs ! But of all the Ways that lead to this great End, next to the Sacred Pages, we may venture to aver, that the Study of the Arts and Sciences is the foremoft. It is in Degree as this Study prevails, that any Nation is civilized, the human Faculties enlarged, the Manners of Mankind polifhed, and the mod happy beneficial Correfpondence between the various Members of Society throughout the World eftablifhed. What feems peculiarly difcouraging to many is, i. That the different Terms and various Syftems of Arts and Sciences are fcattered throughout a vaft Multitude of Books — 2. That to purchafe thefe Books is attended with a very confiderable Ex¬ pence — 3. That even where there is an Inclination there is often a Want of Time to ftudy them — 4. And, that as it is now almoft an univerfal Cuftotn for every Nation to publifli in their own Tongue, the Student is under a Neceffity of learning four or five different Languages, before he can make any confiderable Progrefs. It is with a View to remove thefe great Hinderances, and to make the Path of Know¬ ledge fmooth and eafy, that a Number of Gentlemen have engaged in this arduous Un¬ dertaking of ‘The New Complete Didiionary of Arts and Sciences 3 each Member employed in executing the Part which he has hitherto made his principal Study 3 and confequently not only capable of communicating to the Publick, with Tafte and Genius, what the Moderns and Ancients have written on the fame Subject, but alfo of adding thereto his own Improvements and Difcoveries. In order to afford every poffible Encouragement, thefe Gentlemen have labored to render this ineftimable Work of as eafy Purchafe as they could, by lopping off every Thing fuperfluous, and at the fame Time ftudioufly preferving every profitable and in- terefting Article. They have alfo concluded, that many fingular Advantages will accrue from its being publiflied periodically 3 viz. That the Expence is fcarcely if at all felt —-That an Flour’s Reading in a Day, or at an Evening, will complete the Number in the Courfe of the Week —And that it will entertain as well as refrefh the Memories of thofe who formerly made the Arts and Sciences their Study 3 and by the Time the Num¬ bers