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ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE

SECOND EDITION.

To facilitate the acquisition of useful knowledge among young persons, was the Editor's chief object in the original compilation of this work. That the attempt has succeeded, has been at once a source of gratification to him, and a powerful stimulus to further exertions.

In the present edition, much new and interesting matter will be found.

1. To that part of the work which treats of Chronology, the Editor has subjoined a Chronological View of History, both antient and modern, from the earliest period to the present time; in which sacred and profane,-religious and secular history, is exhibited on parallel pages.

2. Under the head of manufactures, the Editor has introduced some new articles, and has corrected many that were inserted in the last edition,—either by the assistance of practical men, or by a careful examination of the diffe rent processes.

3. The philosophical part of this work has been revised throughout by a gentleman of the first scientific attainments. The military and naval departments have been submitted to men eminently conversant with those subjects;in short, there is scarcely a chapter which has not received some important addition or correction, rendered indispensable by the successive fluctuations of science.

4. The Lists of SELECT BOOKS have been carefully revised and corrected; some obsolete works have been expunged, many new ones added; and, in some instances, entire Lists have been formed, agreeably to the suggestions of candid criticism.

March, 1813.

"EVERY publication of an elementary character, and avowedly destined to promote the instruction of youth, has urgent claims on our careful and discriminative notice. Some time ago, we had occasion to advert to a small work (Guy's Pocket Cyclopædia), of which the object was similar to that of Mr. Millard's Cyclopædia, but of which the careless and defective execution rendered it, in our opinion, very unfit for educational purposes. Mr. Millard has obviously brought more industry and discernment to his task; for his pages generally exhibit as much accurate and satisfactory information as can be reasonably conveyed within a narrow compass; and his language is, for the most part, perspicuous and correct. We have been particularly pleased with the compiler's abridged account of Heraldry, of many of the Arts and Manufactures, of the history and process of Printing, and of the different Religious Sects. Although we conceive the present volume to be susceptible of emendation and improvement, we recommend it, even in its present form, as a respectable and useful guide, not only to the young, but to all those persons whose daily avocations, or whose limited circumstances, preclude them from access to more copious sources of information."-Monthly Review for Dec. 1811.

"Of all the books lately published under titles similar to the above, this is, in our estimation, by far the best. We can scarcely point to any book of equal size, into which so great a variety of useful and entertaining matter is compressed. The Author seems to have taken great pains to draw his information from the best sources; and what he has here collected for his youthful readers, is, generally speaking, correct.-Through the whole of the work, the Author evinces a considerable talent .at systematic and clear arrangement, such as is best calculated to assist the memory, while it enlarges the understanding, of his young readers. As we think very highly of the work before us, we shall merely say in conclusion, that, in the approaching season of making Christmas Presents

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and New Year's Gifts to young persons, we know of no literary performance of a similar size and price, we should be more inclined to recommend to the munificent patrons of the ingenious and inquisitive' part of the juvenile community, than this New Pocket Cyclopædia."-Eclectic Review for Dec. 1811.

"Cyclopædia is here used in a restricted sense. It does not mean a circle of the sciences, but a short account of some of the most important; which, in general, is given with such precision as to make the work very proper to be used in SCHOOLS. A distinguishing characteristic of this work is, the recommendation of select books on every important subject of learning and science:" and of this part, we must say not only, that it is, in general, well executed, but that the attention of the writer has been extended to the very latest productions of real merit and value; works which, though not long published, have already deserved the authentic stamp of approbation.”—British Critic for Dec. 1811.

"The Author's plan includes a variety of useful and entertaining matter, and affords much satisfactory information on subjects of which young persons are, most frequently, ignorant. The multifarious subjects are, in general, treated with such perspicuity and brevity, as to render these 'Elements of Useful Knowledge' highly acceptable to young persons, and more especially to SCHOOLS. Of the lists of Select Books, we must express our warmest approbation. The superintendants of education may safely commit them to their pupils, as they appear to have been selected with scrupulous accuracy, and considerable judgment."-Universal Magazine for June 1812.

"This useful volume is divided into eight [nine] classes; each of which parts is judiciously sub-divided into the several branches; and the whole work is well calculated for the information and amusemen of those who have not leisure to peruse, or ability to purchase more elaborate publications.”—Gentleman's Magazine for August

1812.

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