The Cyclopædia; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature is an important 19th century British encyclopaedia edited by Rev. Abraham Rees (1743–1825), a Presbyterian minister and scholar who had edited previous editions of Chambers's Cyclopædia. Many major scholars of the day contributed. Scientific theorising about the atomic system, geological succession, and earth origins; natural history (botany, entomology, ornithology and zoology); and developments In technology, particularly In textiles manufacture, are all reflected in the Cyclopædia.4C87E781D6416E8CC65F252635C086.ashx "The subversive encyclopedia" by John Underwood in Science Museum Library & Archives Newsletter, Spring/Summer 2010. Serially published from 1802 to 1820, the Cyclopædia was criticised for its idiosyncratic topic selection and alphabetization standards. Hostile reviews in the Anti-Jacobin Review (1802–1805) complained about its supposed anti-religious aspects and radical standpoints attributed to its editor and contributors, and cited lack of article balance, confusing alphabetization, and cross-references to then-unpublished volumes. The British Critic less stridently criticised lack of balance and confusion. The Quarterly Review commented in 1863, "Rees is the most extensive cyclopædia in English with many excellent articles it has generally been condemned as on the whole too diffuse and too commonplace." In 1948 Percy Scholes published his biography The Great Dr Burney, 2 vol., and devoted a chapter to Charles Burney's work for Rees, discussing in some detail the faults of the work, in particular, the way the serial production caused major problems when editors were faced with new knowledge that appeared after the volume containing the appropriate section had been issued. They addressed this partially with an appendix in the last volume.
The Rees Project, was instigated by Professor June Zimmerman Fullmer, who independently indexed the Cyclopædia. After tapping the invisible college of scholars who knew of Rees, she convened a summer 1986 meeting in London, following which she wrote a proposal to the American Foundation for the Humanities for funding to the project, setting out the object of producing a printed concordance to the contents of the Cyclopædia. This was intended to make Rees much more widely accessible to the modern reader. Funding was not forthcoming, and the matter lapsed.
The Cyclopædia lacks a classified index volume. In 1820, Philosophical Magazine analysed the work's contents by half-volume publication dates, as proper priority had not been given to serially published scientific discoveries. The following are notable topics covered by the Cyclopædia (containing over 15 columns).
Notes: In the original Cyclopædia, the letters I and J are treated as identical, as are U and V, following ancient Latin conventions; each pair forms one sequence in the alphabetical order of the articles. Two-year dating of volumes indicates separate publication dates for half-volumes. Contributors' names have been attributed based on the 1820 analysis.
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Volume 1 A – Amaranthides Vol 1, 1802
ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesAbyssinia Geography 23.3 Academy Miscellaneous 17.5 Aerostation Natural Philosophy 27.2 Aetna Geography 26.2 Affinity Chemistry 26.9 Africa Geography 18.3 Air Physics 19.4 Alexander the Great Biography 23.4 Algebra Algebra 22.8 Algiers Geography 23.0 Aleppo Geography 19.5 Allium Botany 18.6 William Wood
Volume 2 Amarantus – Arteriotomy Vol 2, 1802/3 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesAmerica History 30.7 Amphitheatre Architecture 15.0 Amputation Surgery 31.2 Anatomy, veterinary Comparative anatomy 35.0 Anatomy Anatomy 29.0 Aneurism Surgery 18.9 Annuities Annuities 16.0 William MorganAntimony Chemistry 21.0 Arabia Geography 27.3 Arsenic Chemistry 20.6
Volume 3 Artery – Battersea Vol 3, 1803/4 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesAsia Geography 25.1 Astronomy Astronomy 18.3 Athens Geography 80.5 Atmosphere Natural Philosophy 38.1 Abraham ReesBanks Commerce 24.3 Barometer Meteorology 68.2 Basso-Relievo Sculpture 15.6 John FlaxmanBattalion War 64.2
Volume 4 Battery – Bookbinding Vol 4, 1804/5 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesBattle War 22.2 Bees Natural History 26.3 Bible Scripture 78.5 Bird Ornithology 125.8 Edward DonovanBirman Empire Geography 23.3 Bishop Ecclesiastical History 21.3 Bleaching Technology 25.4 Charles TaylorBlindness Medicine 17.3 Blowing & Blastfurnaces Technology 45.2 David MushetBlowing Machine Machine 29.1 David MushetBoat Naval & Marine 23.6 George Glover; possibly pseudonymousBook Misc 25.2
Volume 5 Book-keeping – Calvart Vol 5, 1805 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesBook-keeping Business 50.8 Bounty Commerce 15.8 Brain Anatomy 18.9 Bridge Architecture 23.0 Calculus Mathematics 24.6
Volume 6 Calvary – Castra Vol 6, 1806 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesCamelus Zoology 18.6 Camp War 18.2 Campanula Botany 18.7 Canal Civil Engineering 289.0 John Farey, Sr.; the longest article in the workCancer Zoology 32.0 Cannon Artillery - War 60.4 Canon Religion 21.8 Carabus Entomology 22.0 Edward DonovanCarduus Botany 19.7 William WoodCarex Botany 37.1 William WoodCarbon Chemistry 18.5 Carriage Artillery - War 26.6 James GlenieCarthaginian Ancient history 36.7
Volume 7 Castramentation – Chronology Vol 7, 1806/7 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesCastrametation War 18.6 James Glenie?Cataract Surgery 23.5 Catherine II Biography 28.0 Cattle Agriculture 38.9 Richard Watson DicksonCause Philosophy 15.1 Center Mechanics 49.1 Centaurea Botany 20.5 William WoodCerambyx Entomology 37.2 Edward DonovanCervix Zoology 16.0 Ceylon Geography 33.6 Chance Probabilities 44.0 Chimney Architecture 14.8 China Geography 65.0 Chronology Chronology 110.0
Volume 8 Chronometer – Colliseum Vol 8, 1807 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesChronometer Horology 112.7 William PearsonChurch Religion 38.0 Cicero Biography 20.6 Cimex Entomology 15.5 Edward DonovanCipher Cryptography 59.9 William BlairCircle Astronomy 70.5 William PearsonCirculation of the blood Anatomy 24.2 Cistus Botany 20.2 William WoodClassification Natural history 75.0 Climate Geography 26.6 Clock Horology 118.6 William PearsonClover Agriculture 19.0 Richard Watson DicksonCoal Natural history 75.0 John Farey, Sr.Coast Geography 15.2 Cochin China Geography 16.1 Coin Commerce 23. Patrick KellyCold Physiology 25.0
Volume 9 Collision – Corne Vol 9, 1807/8 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesColony Government 29.4 Colour-making in Calico Printing Natural Philosophy 30.7 James ThomsonColuber Zoology 36.7 Columba Orinithology 14.9 Edward DonovanComet Astronomy 35.8 Commerce Commerce 25.1 Common Agriculture 27.3 Compass Natural Philosophy 16.9 Compensation-Balance Horology 31.1 William PearsonComposition in painting Painting 15.6 John FlaxmanConchology Conchology 64.1 Edward DonovanConcord Music 16.9 John Farey, Sr.Conferva Botany 16.8 William WoodConic Sections Mathematics 32.0 James IvoryConstruction Military 65.3 James GlenieConvolvulus Botany 28.0 William WoodConyza Botany 15.5 William WoodCook, James Biography 43.9 Copper Mineralogy 29.7 Corn Laws Rural Economy 63.1 Richard Watson Dickson?
Volume 10 Cornea – Czyrcassy Vol 10, 1808 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesCottage farm Rural Economy 15.0 Richard Watson Dickson?Cottage Rural economy 18.7 Richard Watson Dickson?Cotton manufacture Commerce 35.2 James Thomson; revisited in 1812 as "Manufacture of cotton"Court Law 37.2 Cranium Anatomy 83.7 Croisade (Crusade) History 15.0 Crops, course of Agriculture 50.0 Richard Watson DicksonCroton Botany 17.6 William WoodCrystals Chemistry 16.0 Cucumis Gardening 15.2 Richard Watson Dickson?Curculio Entomology 19.2 Edward DonovanCurve Geometry 16.2 James IvoryCutlery Technology 15.4 Charles SylvesterCutting-engine Mechanics 18.4 William PearsonCycle Miscellaneous 21.8
Volume 11 D – Dissimilitude Vol 11, 1808 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesDaemon Antiquity 12.5 Dairying Rural economy 38.6 Richard Watson Dickson?David Biography 18.0 Death Physiology 18.6 Declination of a Compass Natural philosophy 14.5 Declination Astronomy 85.0 Degeneration Physiology 35.9 Degree Astronomy 118.2 Deluge Natural history 24.8 Denmark Geography 23.2 Diagonal motion Technology 21.7 John DuncanThe article text cites "the author" as having invented the machine shown in the relevant illustration plates; said plates attribute it to John Duncan, who was a contributor to other articles.Dial Horology 30.4 William PearsonDigestion Physiology 28.2 Diophantine Algebra 18.8 John PondDipping in Calico Printing Dyeing 17.5 James Thomson
Volume 12 Dissimulation – Eloane Vol 12, 1809 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesDog Zoology 26.3 Dramatic machinery Theatre 15.0 Dropsy Medicine 17.6 Druids Miscellaneous 18.6 Drunkenness Physiology 15.2 Dublin Geography 16.0 Duck Ornithology 21.0 Edward DonovanDyeing Dyeing (history of) 15.9 Charles TaylorDynamics Physics 19.4 Tiberius CavalloEar Anatomy 43.8 Earth Astronomy 71.0 Earthquake Natural history 28.4 Eclipse Astronomy 57.9 Egypt Geography 33.0 Electrical experiments Electricity 35.9 Electrical machine Electricity 16.2
Volume 13 Elocution – Extremities Vol 13, 1809 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesEmbankment Agriculture 26.0 Richard Watson DicksonEmbryo Anatomy 23.0 Enamelling Arts - Technological 15.8 Edmund TurrellEngland Geography 38.8 Engraving Arts - Technological 48.0 Entomology Entomology 116.0 Signed D, for DonovanEquations Algebra 51.0 Equatorial instrument Astronomy 68.0 William PearsonEscapement Horology 47.7 William PearsonExchange Commerce 29.5 Patrick KellyExtremities Anatomy 79.0
Volume 14 Extrinsic – Food Vol 14, 1810 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesEye Anatomy 67.6 Falco Ornithology 15.0 Edward DonovanFalling stones Natural history 16.0 Fallowing of land Agriculture 16.9 Richard Watson DicksonFarm Agriculture 40.0 Richard Watson DicksonFelis Zoology 27.8 Fence Agriculture 54.0 Richard Watson DicksonFever Medicine 120.8 Ficus Botany 17.7 James Edward SmithFish, anatomy of Comparative anatomy 136.5 Fishery Miscellaneous 32.4 Fistula Surgery 31.6 Fluxions & methods of fluxions Analysis 26.9
Volume 15 Food – Generation Vol 15, 1810 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesForce Mechanics 39.7 John PondFoundry Technology 16.3 Fracture Surgery 71.2 Fragaria Botany 15.5 James Edward SmithFrance History 42.6 French school of engraving Arts 224.7 John LandseerFunction Analysis 51.5 Fungus Surgery 18.8 Furnace Technology 16.2 Furs Commerce 26.3 Galvanism Electricity 17.2 Charles SylvesterGangrene Medicine 16.1 Gate Rural Economy 18.9 Richard Watson DicksonGems, engraving of Arts 24.7 Charles KonigJohn Flaxman?Gems Miscellaneous 18.6 Charles Konig
Volume 16 Generation – Gretna Green Vol 16, 1810–11 ArticleClassificationColumnsContributor/NotesGeneration (Reproduction) Physiology 131.5 Geometry Geometry 26.0 Georgian planet (Uranus) Astronomy 33.3 German School of Engraving Arts 68.2 John LandseerGermany Geography 24.6 Gland Anatomy 32.5 Glass Chemistry 43.0 Gonorrhoea Surgery 22.9 Gout Medicine 24.0 Graduation of instruments Astronomy 34.2 Graecia Ancient geography 18.4 Grammar Grammar 59.0 Grass Agriculture 20.0 Richard Watson DicksonGrassland Rural Economy 19.4 Richard Watson Dickson?Gravitation Natural Philosophy 29.0 Grazing Agriculture 25.4 Richard Watson DicksonGreek language Language 22.0
Volume 17 Gretry – Hibe Vol 17, 1811