Calavar, or, The knight of the conquest :: :: University of Virginia Library

A
POPULAR DICTIONARY
OF
ARTS, SCIENCES, LITERATURE, HISTORY, AND POLITICS,
BROUGHT DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME, AND INCLUDING A COPIOUS
COLLECTION OF ORIGINAL ARTICLES IN
AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY:
On the basis of the Seventh Edition of the German
CONVERSATIONS-LEXICON.

Edited BY FRANCIS LIEBER,
ASSISTED BY

EDWARD WIGGLESWORTH AND T. G. BRADFORD, Esqrs.

IN THIRTEEN LARGE VOLUMES, OCTAVO, PRICE TO SUBSCRIBERS,
BOUND IN CLOTH, TWO DOLLARS AND A HALF EACH.

EACH VOLUME WILL CONTAIN BETWEEN 600 AND 700 PAGES.

“THE WORLD-RENOWNED CONVERSATIONS-LEXICON.”

—Edinburgh
Review.

“To supersede cumbrous Encyclopædias, and put within the reach of the poorest
man. a complete library, equal to about forty or fifty good-sized octavos, embracing
every possible subject of interest to the number of 20,000 in all—provided
he can spare either from his earnings or his extravagancies, twenty cents a week,
for three years, a library so contrived, as to be equally suited to the learned and
the unlearned,—the mechanic—the merchant, and the professional man.”

—N. Y.
Courier and Inquirer.

“The reputation of this valuable work has augmented with each volume; and
if the unanimous opinion of the press, uttered from all quarters, be true, which
in this instance happens to be the case, it is indeed one of the best of publications.
It should be in the possession of every intelligent man, as it is a library
in itself, comprising an immense mass of lore upon almost every possible subject,
and in the cheapest possible form.”

—N. Y. Mirror.

More than half of the volumes of this work are now before the public,
and the reception they have met with is the best evidence that the publishers
have fulfilled the promises made at its outset. They have now only to
promise, for the editors and themselves, that no exertion shall be spared to
render the remaining volumes equal to those already published, and thus
sustain the reputation it has acquired. The subscription is large, and increasing;
and in those quarters where its circulation is greatest, and where
it is best known, there is a constantly increasing demand. The publishers
invite the attention of those who may not already have possessed themselves
of it, or may not have had an opportunity to become acquainted with its
merits, to the following account of the original work, upon which it is
based, and which is termed by the Edinburgh Review—

THE WORLD-RENOWNED LEIPZIG CONVERSATIONS LEXICON.

It was intended to supply a want occasioned by the character of the
age, in which the sciences, arts, trades, and the various forms of knowledge
and of active life, had become so much extended and diversified,
that no individual engaged in business could become well acquainted with
all subjects of general interest; while the wide diffusion of information
rendered such knowledge essential to the character of an accomplished
man. This want, no existing works were adequate to supply. Books treating
of particular branches, such as gazetteers, &c. were too confined in
character; while voluminous Encyclopædias were too learned, scientific,
and cumbrous, being usually elaborate treatises, requiring much study or
previous acquaintance with the subject discussed. The conductors of
the Conversation Lexicon endeavored to select from every branch of
knowledge what was necessary to a well-informed mind, and to give poput
lar views of the more abstruse branches of learning and science; thatheir
readers might not be incommoded, and deprived of pleasure or improvement,
by ignorance of facts or expressions used in books or conversation.
Such a work must obviously be of great utility to every class of
readers. It has been found so much so in Germany, that it is met with
everywhere, among the learned, the lawyers, the military, artists, merchants,
mechanics, and men of all stations. The reader may judge how
well it is adapted to its object, from the circumstance, that though it now
consists of twelve volumes, seven editions, comprising about ONE HUNDRED
THOUSAND COPIES, have been printed in less than fifteen years. It
has been translated into the Swedish, Danish and Dutch languages, and a
French translation is now preparing in Paris.

In the preparation of the American edition, no expense has been spared
to secure the ablest assistance, and the editors have been aided by many
gentlemen of distinguished ability.

The American Biography, which is very extensive has been furnished
by Mr. Walsh, who has long paid particular attention to that branch of
our literature, and from materials in the collection of which he has been
engaged for some years. For obvious reasons, the notices of distinguished
Americans will be confined to deceased individuals: the European biography
contains notices of all distinguished living characters, as well as
those of past times.

The articles on Zoology and the various branches of Natural Science,
and those on Chemistry and Mineralogy, have been prepared expressly for
this work by gentlemen distinguished in the several departments.

In relation to the Fine Arts, the work is exceedingly rich. Great attention
was given to this in the German work, and the Editors have been
anxious to render it, by the necessary additions, as perfect as possible.

To gentlemen of the Bar, the work will be peculiarly valuable, as in
cases where legal subjects are treated, an account is given of English,
French, German and American Law.

“Witnesses from every part of the country concurred in declaring that the
Encyclopædia Americana was in a fair way to degrade the dignity of learning,
and especially the learning of Encyclopædias, by making it too cheap—that the
multitudes of all classes were infatuated with it in saying in so many words
from the highest to the lowest, `the more we see of the work the better we like
it.”'

—N. Y. Courier and Inquirer.

“The articles in the present volume appear to us to evince the same ability
and research which gained so favorable a reception for the work at its commencement.
The Appendix to the volume now before us, containing an account
of the Indian Languages of America, must prove highly interesting to the reader
in this country; and it is at once remarkable as a specimen of history and philology.
The work altogether, we may again be permitted to observe, reflects
distinguished credit upon the literary and scientific character, as well as the
scholarship of our country.”

—Charleston Courier.

“The copius information which this work affords on American subjects,
fully justifies its title of an American Dictionary; while at the same time the
extent, variety, and felicitous disposition of its topics, make it the most convenient
and satisfactory Encyclopædia that we have ever seen.”

—National Journal.

“If the succeeding volumes shall equal in merit the one before us, we may
confidently anticipate for the work a reputation and usefulness which ought to
secure for it the most flattering encouragement and patronage.”

—Federal Gazette.

“The variety of topics is of course vast, and they are treated in a manner
which is at once so full of information and so interesting, that the work, instead
of being merely referred to, might be regularly perused with as much pleasure as
profit.”

—Baltimore American.

“We view it as a publication worthy of the age and of the country, and cannot
but believe the discrimination of our countrymen will sustain the publishers,
and well reward them for this contribution to American Literature.”

—Baltimore
Patriot.

“It reflects the greatest credit on those who have been concerned in its production,
and promises, in a variety of respects, to be the best as well as the most
compendious dictionary of the arts, sciences, history, politics, biography, &c.
which has yet been compiled. The style of the portion we have read is terse
and perspicuous; and it is really curious how so much scientific and other information
could have been so satisfacterily communicated in such brief limits.”

—N. Y. Evening Post.

“A compendious library, and invaluable book of reference.”

—N. Y. American.

“Those who can, by any honest modes of economy, reserve the sum of two
dollars and fifty cents quarterly, from their family expenses, may pay for this
work as fast as it is published; and we confidently believe that they will find at
the end that they never purchased so much general, practical, useful information
at so cheap a rate.”

—Journal of Education.

“If the encouragement to the publishers should correspond with the testimony
in favor of their enterprise, and the beautiful and faithful style of its execution,
the hazard of the undertaking, bold as it was, will be well compensated; and
our libraries will be enriched by the most generally useful encyclopedic dictionary
that has been offered to the readers of the English language. Full enough
for the general scholar, and plain enough for every capacity, it is far more convenient,
in every view and form, than its more expensive and ponderous predecessors.”

—American Farmer.

“The high reputation of the contributors to this work, will not fail to insure
it a favorable reception, and its own merits will do the rest.”

—Silliman's Journ.

“The work will be a valuble possession to every family or individual that
can afford to purchase it; and we take pleasure, therefore, in extending the
knowledge of its merits.”

—National Intelligencer.

“The Encylopædia Americana is a prodigious improvement upon all that has
gone before it; a thing for our country, as well as the country that have it birth,
to be proud of; an inexhaustible treasury of useful, pleasant, and familiar learning
on every possible subject, so arranged as to be speedily and safety referred to
on emergency, as well as on deliberate inquiry; and better still, adapted to the
understanding, and put within the reach of the multitude. * * * The Encyclopædia
Americana is a work without which no library worthy of the name
can hereafter be made up.”

—Yankoe.

“This work appears to improve as it issues from the press. The number of
able writers, who contribute original matter in all the departments of literature
and science is amply sufficient to give it celebrity and high character. To men
engaged in the active pursuits of life—whose time is precious—this popular dictionary
is a most valuable and ready mode of reference. It embraces brief
views and sketches of all the late discoveries in science—and the present condition
of literature, politics, &c. &c. Every merchant's counting-room—every
lawyer's library—every mechanic—every farmer ought to possess a copy of this
useful and valuable work.”

—Courier.

“From the specimen which has already been given, we have no hesitation in
saying, that in regard to intelligence, skill, and faithful diligence, it is a work
of the very highest order. We know of no similar publication that can bear
any comparison with it for the rich variety of valuable information, which it
condenses within so small a compass. It is free from all the narrowness of English
prejudice, it containe many important and interesting details which can be
found in no English production, and is a work which could be written by none
but German scholars, more than two hundred of whom were employed in the
original compilation.”

—Boston Observer.

“This cannot but prove a valuable addition to the literature of the age.”

—
Mer. Advertiser.

“The vast circulation this work has had in Europe, where it has already been
reprinted in four or five languages, not to speak of the numerous German editions,
of which SEVEN have been published, speaks loudly in favor of its intrinsic
merit, without which such a celebrity could never have been attained. To every
man engaged in public business, who needs a correct and ample book of reference
on various topics of science and letters, the Encyclopædia Americana will
be almost invaluable. To individuals obliged to go to situations where books
are neither numerous nor easily procured, the rich contents of these twelve volumes
will prove a mine which will amply repay its purchaser, and be with difficulty
exhausted; and we recommend it to their patronage in the full conviction
of its worth. Indeed, it is difficult to say to what class of readers such a book
would not prove useful, nay, almost indispensable, since it combines a great
amount of valuable matter in small coinpass, and at moderate expense, and is
in every respect well suited to augment the reader's stock of ideas, and powers
of conversation, without severely taxing time or fatiguing attention.”

—Am
Daily Advertiser.

“The department of American Biography, a subject of which it should be disgraceful
to be ignorant, to the degree that many are, is in this work, a prominent
feature, and has received the attention of one of the most indefatigable
writers in this department of literature, which the present age can furnish.”

—
Boston Courier

“According to the plan of Dr. Lieber, a desideratum will be supplied; the substance
of contemporary knowledge will be brought within a small compass;—
and the character and uses of a manual will be imparted to a kind of publication
heretofore reserved, on strong shelves, for occasional reference. By those
who understand the German language, the Conversation Lexicon is consulted ten
times for one application to any English Encyclopædia.”

—National Gazette.

“The volume now published is not only highly honorable to the taste, ability,
and industry of its editors and publishers, but furnishes a proud sample of the
accuracy and elegance with which the most elaborate and important literary
enterprises may now be accomplished in our country. Of the manner in which
the editors have thus far completed their task, it is impossible, in the course of a
brief newspaper article, to speak with adequate justice.”

—Boston Bulletin.

“It continues to be particularly rich in the departments of Biography and
Natural History. When we look at the large mass of miscellaneous knowledge
spread before the reader, in a form which has never been equalled for its condensation,
and conveyed in a style that cannot be surpassed for propriety and perspicuity,
we cannot but think that the American Encyclopædia deesrves a
place in every collection, in which works of reference form a portion.”

—Southern
Patriot.

“By far the best work of the kind ever offered for sale in this country.”

—
U. S. Gaz