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xii greatly above its former level; and in that of Physical Science in particular, it acquired, through the valuable assistance of Professor Robison, a high degree of scientific eminence. His accession did not, however, take place till the work was advanced to the thirteenth volume; a little before which period, it had been committed, owing to the death of the Editor, Mr Colin Macfarquhar, to the direction of the Reverend Dr Gleig. In a Supplement of two volumes, also executed under his direction, Professor Robison completed that series of articles, which he had commenced in the principal work; the whole, to use the words of a very competent judge, “exhibiting a more complete view of the modern improvements of Physical Science, than had ever before been in the possession of the British Public.”

The division of the editorial labour between two successive Editors, though both were well qualified for the task, was a circumstance very unfavourable to unity and consistency of design and execution. In the fourth edition, which was completed in twenty volumes, in 1810, under the undivided and able superintendence of Dr James Millar, the work assumed a form more consistent with the principles of its plan than it had yet done in any preceding edition; and it was enriched with a number of new articles in various departments of Science and Learning; among which, those of Professor Wallace in the department of pure mathematics hold a distinguished place. This edition would have been rendered still more valuable, had its Editor been at liberty to avail himself fully of Professor Robison’s articles in the supplemental volumes to the third; but this was prevented, by a temporary separation of the right of property in these volumes, from that in the principal work.

Another impression having been called for, almost immediately after the fourth was finished, the fifth edition was, in consequence, issued without any material change. The sixth, lately completed, has the advantage of references to many of the articles contained in the present work; which stands in the same relation to the three last editions of the Encyclopædia Britannica.

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