Although your space is generally devoted to the higher and more curious
inquiries respecting antiquities and literature, I am sure you will not
grudge a little room for facilitating and improving the means of popular
information and instruction.
For every man, almost in any station in society, I submit that the
followings works for reference are indispensable, in the most convenient
corner or shelf of his library:--1. A Biographical Dictionary. 2. A
Gazetteer. 3. A Statistical or Commercial Dictionary. With works of that
description the public have been very indifferently supplied during the
last thirty years: at least, at the _moderate prices_ calculated to
bring them within the reach of students in humbler life, forming the
great mass of readers. Mr. Constable, of Edinburgh, published in 1817 an
abridged Gazetteer, price 18s., but there has been no such work since.
Mr. A.K. Johnston's _Geographical Dictionary_, at 36s., lately
published, supplies to a certain class of readers one of the works
wanted.
I beg to suggest a few observations for the improvement of works of this
description through your valuable channel.
I. I submit that none of the dictionaries of reference now specified
should be published without promise of a _periodical supplement_ every
five or seven years, containing later matter and intelligence. For
example, how easily could this be given in the case of a Biographical
Dictionary! Say that such a work has been published in 1830 (which, it
is believed, is the date of Gorton's excellent _Biographical
Dictionary_), the compiler of a supplement has only to collect and
arrange monthly or annual obituaries of the common magazines since 1830
to make a good and useful supplemental volume.
II. I would suggest to skilful authors and booksellers publishing
Biographical Dictionaries to follow the French and American custom of
including in them the more eminent _contemporary_ living characters.
That would add greatly to the use of the book; and the matter could
easily be collected from the current Books of Peerage and Parliamentary
Companions, with aid from the numerous magazines as to distinguished
literary men.
III. The supplements for Gazetteers could be easily compiled from the
_parliamentary papers_ and magazines of the day. I would refer
particularly to the supplements published by Mr. McCulloch to his
_Commercial Dictionary_ as an example to be followed; while the conduct
lately adopted in the new edition of Maunder's _Biographical Treasury_
should be avoided. The old edition of that collection consisted of 839
pages, and it is believed it was _stereotyped_. A new edition, or a new
issue, of the old 839 pages was lately published, the same as the
original dictionary, with a supplement of 72 pages. That is not sold
separately; so that the holders of the old edition must purchase the
whole work a _second_ time in 1850, at 10s., to procure the supplement.
The public should not encourage such a style of publication. Any one
might publish a supplemental dictionary since 1836, which would equally
serve with the old edition. This hint is particularly addressed to Mr.
Charles Knight.
These hints are offered to the publishers and encouragers of _popular_
works for general readers, at economical prices; and they might be
extended. For example, dictionaries of medicine for family use have
great sale. Sometimes, it is believed, they are stereotyped. Why should
not later practice and discoveries be published in a cheaper
_supplement_, to preserve the value of the original work? Thus, in my
family, I use the excellent _Cyclopædia of Popular Medicine_ published
by Dr. Murray in 1842; but on looking into it for "Chloroform" and "Cod
Liver Oil," no such articles are to be found, as they were not known in
1842. The skilful will find many other omissions.
IV. There might be a greater difficulty in constructing a popular
commercial or statistical dictionary, at a moderate price, to be
supplied with supplements at later intervals. But even as to these,
there is a good model in Waterston's _Small Dictionary of Commerce_,
published in 1844, which, with a supplement, might afford, for a few
shillings, to give all the later information derived from the free-trade
measures and extension of our colonies. Waterston's original work is
advertised often for sale at 10s. or 12s., and a supplement at 3s. would
bring it within the reach of the great bulk of readers.
These suggestions are offered without the slightest intention to
depreciate or disparage the greater and more elaborate works of Mr.
McCulloch, and others who compile and publish works worthy of reference,
and standards of authority among men of highest science. No man who can
afford it would ever be without the latest edition (without the aid of
supplements) of large works; but it is manifest that there has been a
great neglect to supply the mass of readers in ordinary circumstances
with books of common reference, at moderate prices; and I hope that some
publishers of enterprise and sagacity will see it to be their interest
to act on the advice now offered.