THE DIFFERENT SCIENCES AND ARTS
Are digefted into the FORM of Diftinct

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OR

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SYSTEM S

The HISTORY, THEORY, and PRACTICE, of each,
according to the Latest Discoveries and Improvements;

AND FULL EXPLANATIONS GIVEN OF THE

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WHETHER RELATING TO

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Including ELUCIDATIONS of the most important Topics relative to RELIGION, MORALS,
MANNERS, and the OECONOMY of LIFE:

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A DESCRIPTION of all the Countries, Cities, principal Mountains, Seas, Rivers, &c.
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A General HISTORY, Ancient and Modern, of the different Empires, Kingdoms, and States;

AND

An Account of the LIVES of the moft Eminent Perfons in every Nation,

from the earliest ages down to the present times.

Compiled from the writings of the beft Authors, in feveral languages; the most approved Dictionaries, as well of general fcience as of its parti-
cular branches; the Tranfactions, Journals, and Memoirs, of Learned Societies, both at home and abroad; the MS. Lectures of
Eminent Professors on different sciences; and a variety of Original Materials, furnished by an Extensive Correfpondence.

THE THIRD EDITION, IN EIGHTEEN VOLUMES, GREATLY IMPROVED.

ILLUSTRATED WITH FIVE HUNDRED AND FORTY-TWO COPPERPLATES.

VOL. I.

INDOCTI DISCANT, ET AMENT MEMINISSE PERITI.

EDINBURGH.

PRINTED FOR A. BELL AND C. MACFARQUHAR,

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Entered in Stationers Hall in Terms of the A& of Parliament.

SIR,

KING.

WHEN the Proprietors of the ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA resolved to publish a new and improved Edition of that Work, they naturally requested permiffion to lay it at the feet of their SOVEREIGN.

YOUR MAJESTY's gracious compliance with that request, whilst it incited them to employ their utmost efforts to make this Edition not altogether unworthy of Your Royal Protection, procured for their undertaking the favour of that Public by which Your MAJESTY is revered as the Father of Your People, and the enlightened Patron of Arts, Sciences, and Literature.