Notes and Queries, Number 44, August 31, 1850 | Page 6

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his library:--1. A Biographical Dictionary.
2. A Gazetteer. 3. A Statistical or Commercial Dictionary. With works
of that description the public have been very indifferently supplied
during the last thirty years: at least, at the moderate prices calculated to
bring them within the reach of students in humbler life, forming the
great mass of readers. Mr. Constable, of Edinburgh, published in 1817

an abridged Gazetteer, price 18s., but there has been no such work
since. Mr. A.K. Johnston's _Geographical Dictionary_, at 36s., lately
published, supplies to a certain class of readers one of the works
wanted.
I beg to suggest a few observations for the improvement of works of
this description through your valuable channel.
I. I submit that none of the dictionaries of reference now specified
should be published without promise of a periodical supplement every
five or seven years, containing later matter and intelligence. For
example, how easily could this be given in the case of a Biographical
Dictionary! Say that such a work has been published in 1830 (which, it
is believed, is the date of Gorton's excellent _Biographical Dictionary_),
the compiler of a supplement has only to collect and arrange monthly
or annual obituaries of the common magazines since 1830 to make a
good and useful supplemental volume.
II. I would suggest to skilful authors and booksellers publishing
Biographical Dictionaries to follow the French and American custom
of including in them the more eminent contemporary living characters.
That would add greatly to the use of the book; and the matter could
easily be collected from the current Books of Peerage and
Parliamentary Companions, with aid from the numerous magazines as
to distinguished literary men.
III. The supplements for Gazetteers could be easily compiled from the
parliamentary papers and magazines of the day. I would refer
particularly to the supplements published by Mr. McCulloch to his
Commercial Dictionary as an example to be followed; while the
conduct lately adopted in the new edition of Maunder's Biographical
Treasury should be avoided. The old edition of that collection consisted
of 839 pages, and it is believed it was stereotyped. A new edition, or a
new issue, of the old 839 pages was lately published, the same as the
original dictionary, with a supplement of 72 pages. That is not sold
separately; so that the holders of the old edition must purchase the
whole work a second time in 1850, at 10s., to procure the supplement.
The public should not encourage such a style of publication. Any one
might publish a supplemental dictionary since 1836, which would
equally serve with the old edition. This hint is particularly addressed to
Mr. Charles Knight.

These hints are offered to the publishers and encouragers of popular
works for general readers, at economical prices; and they might be
extended. For example, dictionaries of medicine for family use have
great sale. Sometimes, it is believed, they are stereotyped. Why should
not later practice and discoveries be published in a cheaper
_supplement_, to preserve the value of the original work? Thus, in my
family, I use the excellent _Cyclopædia of Popular Medicine_
published by Dr. Murray in 1842; but on looking into it for
"Chloroform" and "Cod Liver Oil," no such articles are to be found, as
they were not known in 1842. The skilful will find many other
omissions.
IV. There might be a greater difficulty in constructing a popular
commercial or statistical dictionary, at a moderate price, to be supplied
with supplements at later intervals. But even as to these, there is a good
model in Waterston's _Small Dictionary of Commerce_, published in
1844, which, with a supplement, might afford, for a few shillings, to
give all the later information derived from the free-trade measures and
extension of our colonies. Waterston's original work is advertised often
for sale at 10s. or 12s., and a supplement at 3s. would bring it within
the reach of the great bulk of readers.
These suggestions are offered without the slightest intention to
depreciate or disparage the greater and more elaborate works of Mr.
McCulloch, and others who compile and publish works worthy of
reference, and standards of authority among men of highest science. No
man who can afford it would ever be without the latest edition (without
the aid of supplements) of large works; but it is manifest that there has
been a great neglect to supply the mass of readers in ordinary
circumstances with books of common reference, at moderate prices;
and I hope that some publishers of enterprise and sagacity will see it to
be their interest to act on the advice now offered.
PHILANTHROPOS.
* * * * *
RIB, WHY THE FIRST WOMAN FORMED FROM.
Allow me to request a place for the following curious and quaint
exposition of the propriety of the selection of the
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