Page:Supplement to the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica - with preliminary dissertations on the history of the sciences - illustrated by engravings (IA gri 33125011196181).pdf/41

Rh One of these is the apparent disproportion between the space allotted to the last, as compared with that occupied by the first half of the Alphabet. With respect to this, the Editor must observe, that the Letters in that half, with one or two exceptions, are not nearly so productive of articles as those in the first half; that several of them are almost entirely barren; that a considerable part of each volume, except the last, is occupied with a preliminary Discourse; and finally, that it is scarcely possible to adjust the earlier parts of a work of this kind to a scale exactly suited to the whole.

It may also be thought, that the articles are sometimes of a disproportionate length; and the Editor certainly does not mean to say, that every subject occupies exactly that space, which a due regard to all the circumstances regulating the plan of the work would prescribe. In truth, if an Encyclopædia is to be composed of original articles, written by men of eminence, who have made a particular study of the subjects upon which they are required to write, or who have particular means of information concerning them, it will always be found difficult, if not impossible, to limit each contribution to the space required by the general plan. But the Editor makes this observation, rather to obviate cavils, than as thinking any apology of the kind much called for in relation to the present work; for, though distinguished in an eminent degree by the literary rank of its Contributors, he is inclined to think, that it is less liable to criticism, in the particular alluded to, than any similar work that could be named.

Another point requiring some explanation, is the want of several articles, to which there are references in the work. This has arisen, partly from disappointments incident to every undertaking of the kind, and from which no diligence, however great, will ever secure an exemption; and partly from discovering, as the work advanced, that the subjects referred to could not be treated, without excluding others of more interest and importance. They who are disposed either to censure omissions, or to object to particular articles as superfluous, would do well to recollect, that in order to form a fair judgment, it would be necessary, in every such case, to attend to all the particulars requiring to be considered in adjusting the plan of the work; that the formation of such a plan is evidently a business of selection, and consequently of discretionary choice; and, that an Editor’s arrangements are liable to be varied by circumstances which he cannot possibly control. e