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xxx distinguished men, derived from long personal knowledge of them, and other sources of genuine information not accessible to every eye. Among these may be mentioned the account of Dr Adam, by Professor Pillans; of Dr Adam Ferguson and Mr Home, by the Reverend Dr Lee; of Mr Fox, by Mr Allen; of Professor Playfair, by Mr Jeffrey; of Mr Rennie, by Mr Barrow; and of Mr Watt, obtained from a quarter which justifies the Editor in pointing it out, as the most complete and authentic yet published of that distinguished benefactor of the useful arts.

The list of articles not properly belonging to any of the preceding departments, and which may, therefore, be ranked in the class of , is not very numerous. It however embraces several, on subjects of considerble interest, which have either been omitted in the Encyclopædia, or have not been treated there in a suitable manner, and with the advantages of the knowledge now possessed in regard to them. Such are the articles on the Fine Arts, Bibliography, Chivalry, the Drama, Languages, Romance, and War.

The object of the able article, written by Mr Hazlitt, under the first of these heads, is to point out the principle of excellence in the Arts; particularly in those of Painting and Sculpture; and to inquire into their progress, and the means proposed for their advancement in this country. Great and valuable additions have, of late years, been made to the stock of knowledge, in that branch of philological leaning which relates to the history and affinities of Languages. The discoveries in this field have opened up sources of information as to the early history of the human race, which no other researches or monuments could possibly supply. It is to the philologers of Germany that this branch of learning is more especially indebted; and the reader will find the results of their inquiries, and of those of our countrymen who have seconded their labours, in the elaborate article on Languages, written by Dr Young. Of the articles on the interesting subjects of Chivalry and Romance, and on the more extensive and classical theme of the Drama, it is enough to say, that they are the productions of Sir Walter Scott. If they cannot increase, they certainly will not detract from the lustre of that celebrated name, in whatever literary capacity it may be pronounced. The article on War, by Major Hamilton Smith, contains a skilful exposition of the rules applicable to all the different kinds 8