Supplement to the fourth, fifth and sixth editions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica > Volume 1

XXX
PREFACE.
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 Jeffreys of Mr Rennie, by Mr Harrow $ and of Mr Watt, obtained fiom
a quarter which justifies the Editor in pointing it out, as the most complete and au¬
thentic 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 Miscellaneous Literature,
is not very numerous. It however embraces several, on subjects of considei-
able interest, which have either been omitted in the ILncyclopcedict, 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 line Aits, Biblio¬
graphy, Chivalry, the Drama, Languages, Romance, and W ar.
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
learning which relates to the history and affinities of Languages. The discoveiies
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 indebt¬
ed ; and the reader will find the results of their inquiries, and of those of our conn-
try men who have seconded their labours, in the elaboiate aiticle on Languages, writ¬
ten by Dr Young. Of the articles on the interesting subjects of Chivalry and Ro¬
mance, 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 inciease,
they certainly will not detract from the lustre of that celebrated name, in whatever
literary capacity it may be pronounced. The aiticle on ai, by IMajoi Hamilton
Smith, contains a skilful exposition of the rules applicable to all the different kinds
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