AUGUST, 1806.

Librum tuum legi & quam diligentissime potui annotavi, quæ commutanda, quæ eximenda, ar bitrarer. Nam ego dicere verum assuevi. Neque ulli patientius reprehenduntur, quam qui maxime laudari merentur.-Pliny.

ARTICLE 38.

Volume I. Part I. of The New Cyclopedia, or Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, formed upon a more enlarged plan of arrangement than the Dictionary of Mr. Chambers; comprehending the various articles of that work, with additions and improvements; together with new subjects of biography, geography, and history; and adapted to the present state of literature and science. By Abraham Rees, D. D., F. R. S., editor of the last edition of Mr. Chambers's Dictionary, with the assistance of eminent professional gentlemen. Illustrated with new plates, including maps, engraved for the work by some of the most distinguished artists. First American edition, revised, corrected, enlarged, and adapted to this country, by several literary and scientifick characters. 4to. Price of the half volume to subscribers $3. Philadelphia, printed by R. Carr for Samuel F. Bradford.

THE character of Dr. Rees' Cyclopedia, as far as the volumes have been published, is so well known from the various English Reviews, which are regularly received in this country, that it would seem in a degree impertinent for us to enter into a formal examination of its merits. It will be more decorous in the young criticks of the New World, though to some members of the republick of letters (which like other republicks has its jacobins) it may appear slavish, to bow with deference to the judgment of the literary veterans of the Old Continent, who have, with few exceptions, expressed their warm approbation of the general execution of this work; and to this opinion we do, after an attentive perusal of the most important articles, very cheerfully subscribe.

We shall therefore confine our remarks chiefly to a comparison of the American with the English edition, and to the correction of such typographical and other errors, as we have been able to detect in either. And here we take pleasure in imparting to our readers, how much satisfaction we felt on the first view of the American edition, at the decisive and honourable testimony which it bore to the flourishing state of the arts of printing and engraving in our country. It is one of the few American editions, which, we can with truth say, is not surpassed by the English. Nor will we restrict our commendation to the mechanical execution of the volume before us; we have found useful additions made to some of the articles, which we shall take notice of in another part of our Review. But here commendation must stop ; for, to adopt an old sentiment, though we love our countrymen much,

we love truth more ; and truth compels us to declare.... that this American edition of the Cyclopedia appears to be, at least in respect to the original editors of it, in some degree, a literary fraud. How far the publisher, Mr. Bradford, holds himself responsible for the contents of this edition, we do not know; but we must say, that the manner in which it is to be conducted, judging from the present half-volume, throws no trifling weight of responsibility upon the gentlemen in this country, who superintend the editorial department; a responsibility, which we hope has not been the only motive for keeping their names from the publick. Strong as this language may appear, we trust the impartial reader will be satisfied, that it is not stronger, than is warranted by the facts, which we shall presently exhibit.

The prospectus informs us, that the English edition is published under the direction of Dr. Rees, the learned divine, whose name the work bears; and that he is assisted by about forty other distinguished European literary gentlemen, whose names are given to the publick, and who therefore stand pledged for the faithful execution of the work, and (what is of not less importance) for the principles maintained in it.

Such is the work which the American publisher recommends to his subscribers; a work," the execution of which (to use the language adopted by him) is guaranteed by the respectable names," which he gives to the public from the English advertisement. Not content,however, with servilely copying the London edition, he promises, with a very commendable spirit of patriotism," amendment and addition in those parts, "at least, which relate to the United States," and informs us, that "he "has engaged the assistance of gentlemen, whose talents and celebrity "do honour to their country, and will essentially enrich this important "work." These were the editor's promises, and they were probably dictated by patriotism as well as interest, and, we have had the charity to believe, were made with the sincere intention of fulfilling them. Yet (it is painful, but we must make the inquiry) how have these promises been fulfilled? Why, either by the most unfortunate misconception of the nature of his undertaking, or, what we are loth to believe, by a most daring disregard of his word, he presents the first half-volume to the publick almost without a single claim to patronage on the principal ground, upon which it had been recommended; we mean,....that it was to be a work guaranteed by the authority of Dr. Rees and his able coadjutors. The American editors must know, that it is not a work thus guaranteed; it is not a work resting upon the reputation of able and responsible European literati, who have not been afraid to give their names to the publick, as a pledge for the faithful performance of their undertaking. It is not, in short," Dr. Rees' Cyclopedia," but the Cyclopedia of Drs. X, Y, and Z, of Philadelphia, New-York, &c. So far is it from being Dr. Rees' work, that we can point out parts of it, which are palmed upon the publick as his, that are directly in contradiction with what that gentleman has published in his own edition ; sentiments which that learned divine, we venture to say, would not only disown, but would think it his duty to counteract by all the justifiable means in his power. No, this edition is the work of unknown and irresponsible" literary scientifick characters" (we take Mr. Bradford's word for the literature and science of the gentlemen) in our own country.

REES'S CYCLOPEDIA.

The publisher has thus, by a strange fatality, if it was unintentional, completely destroyed what he had just before held out to his patrons, as one of the great excellences of this work....the authority it derived from the known talents and responsibility of the European gentlemen, who are engaged in it.

The only mode, in which the authority (and, we should say, the chief value) of the work could be preserved, would have been to distinguish, by some obvious mark, every addition or variation in the American edition. We shall be told perhaps, that this is already done in part; this surely cannot be denied, but we must be allowed to add, that this partial designation is as mischievous as none at all, because some of the most material alterations are made, without being thus distinguished.

The first article of importance, which has attracted our attention,is the As this article is a fair specimen life of the celebrated ABERNETHY. of the manner in which other parts of the work are mutilated, we shall exhibit it pretty much at large; and this will render a minute examinWe shall place the extracts from asion of many others unnecessary. the two editions in opposite columns, and distinguish the variations by italicks.

American edition.

ABERNETHY JOHN.

In 1703, after having been for some years at Dublin with a view to farther improvement he was ordained at Antrim; where his publick performances were much admired, and where his general conduct and distinguished attainments recommended him to the esteem of all who knew him. In 1716, &c.

The interference of this assembly was repugnant to those sentiments which Mr. Abernethy had been led to entertain by an attention to the BANGORIAN Controversy, which prevailed in Many other England about this time. ministers in the North of Ireland, by means of the writings of Dr. Hoadly and his associates adopted opinions similar to those of Mr. Abernethy. They instituted a society whose professed aim was to bring things to the test of reason and scripture. This design was probably suggested by Mr. Abernethy.

&c.

Vol. 3. No. 8.

3F

English edition.

In 1703, after having been for some years at Dublin with a view to farther improvement he was ordained at Antrim; where his publick performances were much admired, and where his general conduct and distinguished attainments recommended him to the esteem He was much of all who knew him. respected not only by his brethren in the ministry, but by many of the laity, who were pleased with the urbanity of his manHis talents and virtues gave a considerable ascendency in the synod, so that he had a large share in the management of publick affairs. As a speaker he was considered as their chief ornament; and he maintained his character in these respects and his interest in their esteem to the last, even when a change of his relig ious sentiments had excited the opposition of many violent antagonists. In 1716, &c.

ners.

him

The interference of this assembly was repugnant to those sentiments of religious freedom which Mr. Abernethy had been lead to entertain by the exercise of his own vigorous faculties and by an attention to the BANGORIAN Controversy which prevailed in England about this time. Many other ministers in the north of Ireland, formed more enlarged ideas of christian liberty and charity than they had been accustomed to do by means of the writings of Dr. Hoadly and his associates. With a view to the improve. ment of useful knowledge they instituted a society whose professed aim was to

Taking this whole article together, and comparing it with the real character of Abernethy, as attested by the united voices of biographers, we do not recollect a more insidious attempt to rob the defenceless dead of a well-earned reputation, and to exhibit a mere corpse of character (if we may use the expression) stripped of all animation and of every positive quality, than here discovers itself. If it was of impor-: tance to know any one circumstance of Abernethy's life, it surely was so to be distinctly informed, that his excellent heart, as well as head, secured him the esteem of all to the last, " even when a change of his religious sentiments had excited the opposition of many violent antagonists." Yet the paragraph, which expressly exhibits this part of his character, is expunged from the American edition! If, too, it was of consequence to know, that Mr. Abernethy's " sentiments" differed from many who were around him, we ought to be informed what sentiments. are alluded to. Yet the American editors, instead of informing us that they were "sentiments of religious freedom," (as is done in the original) suppress these last words, and leave us to infer what sentiments are intended, from our acquaintance with the Bangorian controversy: a controversy, of which, we venture to say, not one reader in a hundred knows any thing. Nor is this all the English work tells us, that these sentiments were not merely the result of his attention to the Bangorian controversy (which makes them in a degree the consequence of party-bias), but also " of the exercise of his own vigorous faculties." This last, and, we should say, this material circumstance if A.'s authority is to have any weight on these questions, is wholly suppressed in the American edition!

Our second extract from the English edition says: "this laudable design [of bringing things to the test of reason and scripture] was probably suggested by Mr. Abernethy." What could be more unexceptionable than this expression? What, we ask every liberal man, can be more laudable than "to bring things to the test of reason and scripture"? Do they then really mean to insinuate, that reason and scripture are not to be the test of things? If so, what must we think of the principles of the men, who conduct this new edition of the Cyclopedia, and of the manner, in which they intend to republish the work? Yet our American editors expange the word laudable, and leave us to presume, that, in their judgm.ut, such a design was not laudable.

In the next extract the latter part of the sentence, which speaks of Me. A.'s" justly ac pied reputation," is partly altered and partly sup-.. pressed. Instead of fairly presenting to the reader, what kind of reputation Mr. A. enjoyed and how long he had maintained it, they just tell us coldly of his "former reputation." Gracious heaven! is this the