SUPPLEMENT TO THE FOURTH, FIFTH, AND SIXTH EDITIONS OF THE ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA. WITH PRELIMINARY DISSERTATIONS ON THE HISTORY OF THE SCIENCES. Illustrated by Engravings. VOLUME FOURTH. EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND COMPANY, EDINBURGH; AND HURST, ROBINSON, AND COMPANY, LONDON. ADVERTISEMENT ΤΟ THE FOURTH VOLUME. It was stated in a former Advertisement,* that the second part of Mr STEWART's Dissertation on the History of Metaphysical, Ethical, and Political Philosophy, would accompany the present Half-Volume. Circumstances having rendered it necessary to postpone the appearance of that Part, till a later period in the progress of this Work, it was agreed, that the remaining Part of PROFESSOR PLAYFAIR'S Dissertation on the History of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences should, in the mean time, take its place. It is to this arrangement, that the World is indebted for a Piccc, which, though it only forms part of a greater design, cannot but be regarded as a most valuable contribution to the History of Science; whilst it derives a melancholy interest, from its being the last literary object that employed the talents, and engaged the solicitude, of its eminent author. Mr PLAYFAIR'S Dissertation was intended to furnish an historical sketch of the principal discoveries and improvements in science, from the revival of Letters to the beginning of the present century; and, in that portion of it which is prefixed to the Second Volume of this work, the history is brought down to the period marked by the commencement of Newton's discoveries. The remaining half was to have completed the design, in three parts or subdivisions; the First comprehending the period of NEWTON and LEIBNITZ ; • Advertisement to Volume Third. |