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March 31st, 1827.

THE

LIBRARY FOR THE PEOPLE,

CALCULATED AT ONCE

To Amuse und Interest, and to Instruct and Enlighten,

THE ENTIRE POPULATION

OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

1. Every Number will be complete in itself, and will be printed in a clear and distinct type, and on superfine paper, but with such economy as that every Number will contain as much matter as is usually sold for five shillings, even in elementary works, but for twice that sum in ordinary works.

in general, for the sake of economy, the Subjects will be illustrated by clear Engravings on Wood.

3. It is proposed to complete the Plan by a luminous display of every desirable object of study, in Two Hundred Sixpenny Numbers, every one perfect by itself, but altogether forming a comprehensive body of knowledge in 2. A few Copper and Steel Plates will be introduced; but eight large and handsome Volumes.

THE Proprietors of this Work, at the close of 1825, announced the publication of a LIBRARY FOR THE PEOPLE, in a Prospectus which obtained the approbation of all Classes, and promised an unparalleled success to the undertaking. Circumstances of a peculiar nature delayed its appearance at that time, and the delay has furnished a well-known party with an opportunity of taking up the plan with all those imperfections which never fail to distinguish between imitation and originality. A LIBRARY FOR THE PEOPLE, to be useful and efficient, should be as popular from the selection of its subjects as in its display and execution. Cold mathematical productions, and formal scientific disquisitions, may properly issue from the London University, but they will never reach the fire-sides of the universal population; and if by accident they find their way into such situations, they will be treated as aliens, and preserved as curiosities instead of being perused with pleasure and profit. In this distinction of plan, objects and execution, consists the pretensions of the GENUINE AND ORIGINAL LIBRARY FOR THE PEOPLE, as opposed to any imitation of it, and the Proprietors and Editors appeal, therefore, with confidence to the British People for all the support which has been pledged to them, and to which they hope to prove themselves entitled in the performance of their engage

ments.

THE LIBRARY FOR THE PEOPLE will properly and conveniently divide itself into FOUR DISTINCT DIVISIONS, any or all of which may be purchased separately, according to the pleasure or curiosity of the Reader, while the whole may be taken by Societies, or in conjunction with Neich

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bours, or by Individuals who are willing to indulge themselves and their Families by the possession of works of such ever-living interest.

With suitable encouragement bestowed on each of its four divisions, the entire plan may be completed within the period of one year; but if it appear to be more agreeable to the mass of purchasers, the subjects may be alternated every other week; that is to say, a double series will be continued every fortnight, and in that case the work will be two years in completion. To enable every one, in the first instance, to determine on that division which he prefers (if any selection is made), the First Number of each Division will appear on the 31st of March, and they may then be inspected at the houses of every Bookseller and Vendor of Books in the Three Kingdoms, and ordered collectively or separately as may be most convenient, desirable, or agreeable.

Four Numbers or two Numbers will afterwards appear every week according to the extent of orders, or to the expressed wishes of the public, the active patrons of the design.

First Division of the Library for the People, to be had with the other Divisions, or separately, in Fifty-Two Numbers, at Sixpence each,

THE

WONDERS OF NATURE AND ART

IN THE FOUR QUARTERS OF THE WORLD,

Every subject being to be completed within a single Number, and all that is known in regard to each, exhibited in a popular and lucid manner, with an engraving to each Number.

This department will embrace all that is eminently curious and worthy of being specially known, in modern and expensive works of Voyages and Travels, Topography, Natural History, Meteorology, &c. &c., and will include

Mountains.
Volcanoes.

Rivers.

Seas.

Climates.

Hurricanes.

Meteors.

Caverns.

Cities.
Buildings.

Great Establishments.

Antiquities.

Microscopic Objects.

Colossal Animals.

Birds, Fishes, Insects, and Vegetation.
Fossils, and Minerals.

In a word, whatever is an object of proper curiosity in relation to the Land, the Water, the Atmosphere, the Climate, and the productions of man for use or ornament in all countries.

The Fifty-two Numbers are intended to form TwO VERY HANDSOMT. VOLUMES in octavo.

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Second Division of the Library for the People, to be had with the other Divisions, or separately.

A DISPLAY OF THE ARTS OF LIFE AND SOCIETY. Each being fully completed in all its details within a sixpenny number, including all modern knowledge of improvements relating to

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with appropriate engravings: the Fifty-two Numbers forming, when complete, Two LARGE VOLUMES in octavo.

Third Division of the Library for the People, to be had with the other Divisions, or separately.

THE WORTHIES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. Consisting of detailed biographical accounts of the most illustrious men of every age, connected with British Affairs and British Glory in Arts or Arms, as

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with portraits, forming, when complete, TWO HANDSOME volumes,

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Fourth Division of the Library for the People, to be had with the other Divisions, or separately, in Fifty-two Numbers, at Sixpence.

THE CHIMNEY CORNER COMPANION, Being an exhaustless and everlasting Magazine of the curiosities and good things in the entire circle of Literature, Books, and Knowledge, adapted to all tastes, fancies, ages, and conditions, and containing the quintessence of many thousand volumes, and every thing worthy of being read that ever was printed in

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with a general Index to the whole, and with appropriate Engravings in copper, steel, and wood.

These four general divisions of the objects of popular Knowledge, and the able developement of their parts will, it is presumed, be admitted on all hands to be A GENUINE LIBRARY for the intelligent and inquisitive population of this great empire. The plan evidently contains all that is wanted, and all that can be desired for the professed purposes of such a publication.

It is to be imagined that there are few families to whom, at least, some of the divisions will not be desirable, and the plan of publication enables them to gratify themselves to any extent, at an easy and convenient expense.

To insist on the value of Knowledge, and to attempt to excite feelings of curiosity which must be a habit of the mind, would be unnecessary and impertinent. To say more on the mode of publication and the choice of subjects would be superfluous. To make promises of perfection would be empyrical. But it may be wise and just to declare, that all that ingenuity and learning can effect, shall be honestly and honourably performed, to render the LIBRARY FOR THE PEOPLE, a work of unparalleled popularity and sterling permanent worth.

Orders and Communications to be addressed to the Editors and Proprietors, at KNIGHT and LACEY'S, Paternoster Row, London, by whom the sale and circulation will be managed.

*Country Agents may be supplied with Prospectuses and Posting Bills in suitable numbers; and to give time to show the first number of each series, the publication of the second numbers of the whole will be purposely delayed for a fortni~'

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