PREFACE TO THE NEW AND REVISED EDITION. THE utility of Maunder's "TREASURY OF KNOWLEDGE," and the excellence of its plan, having secured for it a sale amounting now to upwards of one hundred thousand copies, it would be superfluous to recommend it to that numerous class who require a "LIBRARY OF REFERENCE" in the compendious form of a single volume. Various corrections and improvements had, from time to time, been introduced; but of late years, the advancement of knowledge has, in every department, been so great and rapid, that the publishers resolved to reconstruct and reprint the work entirely, that it might more completely meet the wants and requirements of the present time. In preparing this edition, therefore, the whole work has been subjected to the most careful revision; errors have been corrected; what was antiquated has been rewritten; new matter has been added; the arrangement of its parts has been modified; and, in a word, no pains have been spared to render it more than ever worthy of the esteem and patronage it has so long enjoyed. The "Compendious English Grammar" in this edition is entirely new. It consists of two parts. The First Part shows, by the analysis of a passage from Lord Bacon's Essays, how the Grammar of English Language can be studied practically, and yet so exactly and thoroughly, as to enable one, who is acquainted with his mother-tongue alone, to apprehend the secret of using it with force and accuracy. The Second Part is an original treatise, in which, by the adoption of a perfectly intelligible system, all the great facts and principles of English Grammar are exhibited, without the intervention of the inapplicable and misleading forms of the old Grammars; and so as to bring within the reach of all some of the profoundest discoveries of modern Philology. "A Concise History of the English Language” has been appended to it, and copious tables, illustrating the "Derivation and Formation of English Words." Great attention has been given to the revision of the "New and Enlarged English Dictionary." Several thousands of words, now completely obsolete, or used as technical terms alone, have been removed, and replaced by a larger number of good words in general use, but not contained in former editions of this work, and in many instances not found in any English Dictionary hitherto published. The significations have throughout been corrected, and, wherever needful, extended. The ac centuation has been revised. And, as fitting appendages to the Dictionary, the lists of Scripture Proper Names, with those of Christian Names, the tables of Verbal Distinctions, and the lists of common Abbreviations (carefully revised and corrected), have been placed next to it. The Proverbs, Terms, Phrases, &c., have been newly arranged and translated. And the Mottoes, which in this, as in all former editions, surround the pages, have been subjected to a careful examination; and a considerable number, on account of their incorrectness, or for other reasons, removed; and others, more in harmony with the general scope and tenour of the book, substituted for them. Preface. The revision of the Gazetteer and of the Geographical Tables (which are now brought together) has been effected by Mr W. Hughes, the Editor of the "Treasury of Geography," who has, by the excision of whatever was erroneous or out of date, and the insertion of the results of all the most recent discoveries and observations, rendered this portion of the work, although so compendious, of the highest value and usefulness. Every article of the Classical Dictionary has been written anew, and the greatest care in the selection of the subjects exercised, that it might be, not a mere Classical Dictionary, but (what was so much required) a compendium of Classical History, Mythology, Biography, and Geography. In the same way the Chronology has been converted into a Compendium of Modern History; by selecting for insertion lists of the Sovereigns of the great States of Europe, with detailed notices of our own Kings and Queens; and the Battles, Sieges, and other events, which have signalized the course of Modern History, and the advance of mankind to its present condition. The Peerage has been entirely recast; and besides being corrected, from the best authorities, to the date of publication, is rendered more generally interesting and useful, by the addition of second titles, with those given by courtesy to the eldest sons, the dates of creations, and an Alphabetical List of Mottoes, to enable those who do not understand armorial heraldry, to determine the family to which any Baronial Escutcheon may belong. Such important changes have taken place in Laws and Legislation within the last few years, that it has been necessary completely to rewrite the Law Dictionary, &c. This, which is the work of John Morris, Esq., an eminent lawyer in extensive practice in the metropolis, will be found not only much fuller than before, but so correct and intelligible, as to be a reliable guide in all ordinary exigencies. The Useful Tables have, in this edition, been classified; and those relating to Commercial affairs, not only thoroughly revised, and adapted to the most recent regulations and usages, but extended by the addition of Tables of Foreign Money, Weights, and Measures, &c., which cannot fail to prove of the highest utility. In the Scientific and Miscellaneous division, also, similar additions and improvements will be found. By these means, it is hoped that, as far as the bulk and the plan of the work will allow, this new edition of the "TREASURY OF KNOWLEDGE" will prove no unworthy contribution to the means by which those who have the welfare of their fellowcountrymen most at heart, are endeavouring to put within the reach of every rank the benefits and blessings of a sound and practical education. LONDON, 2nd May, 1859. B. B. WOODWARD. |