Publishers’ Circular (1880-1890), 1st October 1884, Edition 1 of 1, Page 951

PREPARING FOE EARLY PUBLICATION . THE DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY . Edited by LESLIE STEPHEN . Volume I ., containing a part of the letter . A ., is passing \ through the Press , and Avill shortly be published . Further Volumes will be issued at intervals of Three Months ; and it is confidently expected that the Work will be completed in about Fifty Volumes . The price of each Volume will be 12 s . 6 d . THE JL has DICTIONARY , for more than , of half NATIONAL a century , been BIOGRAPHY generally felt is . intended to supply a want which Every reader has recognised the utility of the great French Dictionaries of Universal Biography . At the present day such a work would be rendered impracticable by the great increase of the results of historical inquiry . Some division of labour seems to be imperatively necessary . Each nation should have its own biographical dictionary . The it German is intended and Bel to g provide ian dictionaries a dictionary , now for in our progress own nation , are inst worth ances y to of take such a work place abroad beside them ; and . Islands The from ' Dictionary the earliest of National historical Biograp period h . y ' Living will incl persons ude lives are of excluded inhabitants . of the British latest The results first aim of has historical been to g research ive biograp , and hies be which founded shall upon embody an with examination sufficient fulness of original the been documents used . and A from clear whic indication h further will information be given in each be article derived of . the authorities which have , may students The Editor of special has periods endeavoured or departments in all cases of to history obtain . the He assistance has received of the a great most number competent of gratitude important for articles the invaluable from writers help of given recognised by the authority officials of , and the he British has Museum to express , the his Bodleian sincere . Library , and other institutions . A great mass of information will be given from hitherto unpublished sources ; and in the subjects case of recent of the lives articles much . valuable Any assistance help has been of that given kind by in the future friends will and be relatives thankfull of y the acknowled ged . be admitted The great . difficult Notwithstanding y in such a every task is effort to determine to secure the condensation principles upon of statement which lives , the are work to ttiust necessarily "be of very great extent . Some selection is therefore necessary , but it seems been to to give be impracticable all lives likely to to lay be down of interest any absolutel to serious y students fixed rule of . history The main and literature principle . has minuter Thoug students h it is impracticable of biography to and supp genealogy ly all the , the inform aim ation will be which to give might as be much desired information by the ln *!* Js modern possible times within , when the necessary the available limits . materials The selection of biograp must , h of y cours become e , be overwhelmingl less exhaustive y * voluminous luch may be . I pointed n later volumes out in the it first will . be sought to remedy any errors of excess or defect I <> t the It is aims confidentl implied y hoped in its , in title any ; case and , that that the it execution will take of its the plac work e beside will be the not comp unworth letest y I ^ graphical dictionaries hitherto published . I I London : SMITH , ELDER , & CO ., 15 Waterloo Place . ^ bbb * " **—¦——

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