The Encyclopædia Metropolitana was an encyclopedic work published in London, from 1817 to 1845, by part publication. In all it came to quarto, 30 vols., having been issued in 59 parts (22,426 pages, 565 plates).[1]
A title page from division three (history and biography) of the second editionSnow flakes, engraving from George Harvey's 1834 article on meteorology
Initially the project was part of transitional arrangements in 1817 under which Samuel Taylor Coleridge moved publisher, from John Mathew Gutch to Rest Fenner, working with the Rev. Thomas Curtis. Coleridge was offered the role of editor; he wrote the Introduction, which appeared in January 1818, brought out to compete with the fifth edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica which had appeared in 1817 in 20 volumes. Fenner, however, dropped the publication after five part-volumes.[2]
The Encyclopædia Metropolitana was revived in 1820 by the intervention of Bishop William Howley, concerned also to compete with the Britannica, in this case to counter its secular tendency. Howley brought in William Rowe Lyall to take charge.[3] Lyall in turn appointed Edward Smedley as editor.[4] Smedley was succeeded in 1836 by Hugh James Rose.[5]
A rival production was the London Encyclopædia (22 volumes beginning in 1825 and completed within a few years) of the publisher Thomas Tegg. Tegg used Thomas Curtis from the original Coleridge project as editor, and proclaimed the fact on the title page. As he explained in the 1829 preface to his work, Tegg had been obstructed by legal moves from the side of the Metropolitana, but went ahead anyway, pleading that compilations such as encyclopedias needed different rules of copyright.[6]
Plan of the workedit
It professed to give sciences and systematic arts entire and in their natural sequence.[1] Coleridge's Introduction was a treatise on method, with fundamental approach[7] to emphasize the relations of ideas:
Method, therefore, becomes natural to the mind which has been accustomed to contemplate not things only, or for their own sake alone, but likewise and chiefly the relations of things, either their relations to each other, or to the observer, or to the state and apprehension of the hearers. To enumerate and analyze these relations, with the conditions under which alone they are discoverable, is to teach the science of method.
III. History and biography, 5 vols., 4,458 pages, 7 maps, containing biography (135 essays) chronologically arranged (to Thomas Aquinas in vol. 3), and interspersed with (210) chapters on history (to 1815), as the most philosophical, interesting and natural form (but modern lives were so many that the plan broke down, and a division of biography, to be in 2 vols., was announced but not published);[1]
v.11 (i.e. History and Biography v.3)
v.12 (i.e. History and Biography v.4)
IV. Miscellaneous and lexicographical, 13 vols., 10,338 pages, 105 plates, including geography, a dictionary of English and descriptive natural history.[1] An English lexicon, in parts, was supplied by Charles Richardson, from 1818.[8]
v.16 (i.e. Miscellaneous v.3)
v.18 (i.e. Miscellaneous v.5)
v.23 (i.e. Miscellaneous v.10)
The plates were issued in three volumes. An index volume, 364 pages, contained about 9,000 articles.
A re-issue in 38 vols. quarto, was announced in 1849. Of a second edition 42 vols. 8vo, 14,744 pages, belonging to divisions i. to iii., were published in 1849–1858.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefgOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Encyclopaedia s.v. Encyclopaedia Metropolitana". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 381.
^Murphy, G. Martin. "Lyall, William Rowe". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/17237. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Thomas Curtis (1820). The London Encyclopaedia: Or, Universal Dictionary of Science, Art, Literature, and Practical Mechanics, Comprising a Popular View of the Present State of Knowledge. Illustrated by Numerous Engravings, a General Atlas, and Appropriate Diagrams. T. Tegg. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
Internet Archive. Full access: view and download all volumes.
Hathitrust.
April 10, 2024
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The Encyclopaedia Metropolitana was an encyclopedic work published in London from 1817 to 1845 by part publication In all it came to quarto 30 vols having been issued in 59 parts 22 426 pages 565 plates 1 A title page from division three history and biography of the second editionSnow flakes engraving from George Harvey s 1834 article on meteorology Contents 1 Origins 2 Plan of the work 3 Divisions 4 References 5 External linksOrigins editInitially the project was part of transitional arrangements in 1817 under which Samuel Taylor Coleridge moved publisher from John Mathew Gutch to Rest Fenner working with the Rev Thomas Curtis Coleridge was offered the role of editor he wrote the Introduction which appeared in January 1818 brought out to compete with the fifth edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica which had appeared in 1817 in 20 volumes Fenner however dropped the publication after five part volumes 2 The Encyclopaedia Metropolitana was revived in 1820 by the intervention of Bishop William Howley concerned also to compete with the Britannica in this case to counter its secular tendency Howley brought in William Rowe Lyall to take charge 3 Lyall in turn appointed Edward Smedley as editor 4 Smedley was succeeded in 1836 by Hugh James Rose 5 A rival production was the London Encyclopaedia 22 volumes beginning in 1825 and completed within a few years of the publisher Thomas Tegg Tegg used Thomas Curtis from the original Coleridge project as editor and proclaimed the fact on the title page As he explained in the 1829 preface to his work Tegg had been obstructed by legal moves from the side of the Metropolitana but went ahead anyway pleading that compilations such as encyclopedias needed different rules of copyright 6 Plan of the work editIt professed to give sciences and systematic arts entire and in their natural sequence 1 Coleridge s Introduction was a treatise on method with fundamental approach 7 to emphasize the relations of ideas Method therefore becomes natural to the mind which has been accustomed to contemplate not things only or for their own sake alone but likewise and chiefly the relations of things either their relations to each other or to the observer or to the state and apprehension of the hearers To enumerate and analyze these relations with the conditions under which alone they are discoverable is to teach the science of method Later critics said of the actual plan that being the proposal of Coleridge it had at least enough of a poetical character to be eminently impractical Quarterly Review cxiii 379 but the treatises by Archbishop Richard Whately Sir John Herschel Professors Peter Barlow George Peacock Augustus De Morgan and others were considered excellent 1 Divisions editIt is in four divisions with only the last division being presented in an alphabetical structure I Pure Sciences 2 vols 1 813 pages 16 plates 28 treatises includes grammar law and theology II Mixed and Applied Sciences 6 vols 5 391 pages 437 plates 42 treatises including fine arts useful arts natural history and its application the medical sciences 1 v 8 i e Mixed Sciences v 6 III History and biography 5 vols 4 458 pages 7 maps containing biography 135 essays chronologically arranged to Thomas Aquinas in vol 3 and interspersed with 210 chapters on history to 1815 as the most philosophical interesting and natural form but modern lives were so many that the plan broke down and a division of biography to be in 2 vols was announced but not published 1 v 11 i e History and Biography v 3 v 12 i e History and Biography v 4 IV Miscellaneous and lexicographical 13 vols 10 338 pages 105 plates including geography a dictionary of English and descriptive natural history 1 An English lexicon in parts was supplied by Charles Richardson from 1818 8 v 16 i e Miscellaneous v 3 v 18 i e Miscellaneous v 5 v 23 i e Miscellaneous v 10 The plates were issued in three volumes An index volume 364 pages contained about 9 000 articles A re issue in 38 vols quarto was announced in 1849 Of a second edition 42 vols 8vo 14 744 pages belonging to divisions i to iii were published in 1849 1858 1 References edit a b c d e f g nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Encyclopaedia s v Encyclopaedia Metropolitana Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 9 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 381 Richard Holmes Coleridge Darker Reflections 1998 pp 445 6 451 458 461 2 Murphy G Martin Lyall William Rowe Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 17237 Subscription or UK public library membership required Smedley Edward Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Rose Hugh James Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Thomas Curtis 1820 The London Encyclopaedia Or Universal Dictionary of Science Art Literature and Practical Mechanics Comprising a Popular View of the Present State of Knowledge Illustrated by Numerous Engravings a General Atlas and Appropriate Diagrams T Tegg Retrieved 20 February 2013 Coleridge The Friend Essay IV Richardson Charles 1775 1865 Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 External links editInternet Archive Full access view and download all volumes Hathitrust Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Encyclopaedia Metropolitana amp oldid 1142303744, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
