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In Complete Sets, bound in Thirty Volumes, at the following prices :

:

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The PLAN and the LITERARY MERITS of the Encyclopædia Metropolitana have been sufficiently dwelt upon in the PROSPECTUS. After twenty-eight years of arduous labour, the work was completed in 1845. The expenditure upon it amounted to £26,000 for authorship, £7000 for designing and engraving the Plates, and £11,000 for stereotyping the letter-press, a total of £44,000, exclusive of the cost of paper, printing, binding, and publishing. These facts are cited to show how earnestly the Proprietors endeavoured to do justice to their undertaking. The work contains 23,000 quarto pages of letter-press, and above 600 quarto engravings by Lowry, of great beauty and accuracy; the whole forming Thirty large Volumes. The original form of publication was in 59 Parts, at 21s. each.

Re-Issue of the Encyclopædia Metropolitana,

ON A METHODICAL PLAN, ACCORDING TO MR. COLERIDGE'S ARRANGEMENT

FIRST AND SECOND DIVISIONS OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA.
PURE, MIXED, AND APPLIED SCIENCES.

These two Divisions are Re-Issued in two forms.

I. RE-ISSUE IN PARTS. The Arts and Sciences may be had in SIXTY-FOUR PARTS, each containing one complete Treatise. The last Part contains the Title-pages and Tables of Contents of the First Ten Volumes of the Encyclopædia. The Parts vary in Price according to the number of Sheets and Plates in each. A separate list of this Re-Issue may be had gratis.

II. RE-ISSUE IN VOLUMES. These two Divisions may also be had in TEN VOLUMES, in which the TREATISES are arranged according to the nature of the SUBJECTS; forming a SERIES OF ENCYCLOPÆDIAS devoted to Ten Special Departments of Science and Art.

THIRD DIVISION OF THE ENCYCLOPÆDIA.

UNIVERSAL HISTORY, from the EARLIEST ACCOUNTS of MANKIND to the PEACE OF 1815. The Contents of this Division are described at pages 9 and 15 of this Prospectus. The Re-Issue has a SYNOPTIC TABLE OF CONTENTS, which was not published in the First Edition. In Five large Quarto Volumes, averaging 1000 pages each, with Maps.

FOURTH DIVISION OF THE ENCYCLOPÆDIA.

THE LEXICON, OR ALPHABETICAL MISCELLANY. The Contents of this Division are described at page 10 of this Prospectus. In Fourteen large Quarto Volumes, averaging 870 pages each, with an Atlas, and a Series of Engravings comprehending 72 Quarto Plates, 29 Folio Plates, and 3 whole Sheet Plates.

Price in Cloth, 218.; Half-Russia,

GENERAL INDEX to the ENCYCLOPEDIA, One Volume, 4to. 26s.; half-Morocco, 28s.

The ORIGINAL SUBSCRIBERS to this work, who have not yet completed their Sets, have still the opportunity of doing so-but the sale of the Original Parts will very shortly be discontinued.

LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

TO THE

ENCYCLOPEDIA METROPOLITANA;

OR,

A PRELIMINARY TREATISE

ON

METHOD.

BY

SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE.

Non simpliciter nil sciri posse; sed nil nisi certo ordine certâ viâ sciri posse.-BACON.

SYNOPSIS.

SECTION I.

ON THE PHILOSOPHICAL PRINCIPLES OF METHOD.

From disregard of the Principles of Method no Encyclopædia has ever yet been methodically arranged

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13

It is fit to commence the present work by an explanation of the Principles, and an application of them to the chain of the Arts and Sciences

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This work claims to be a Methodical Compendium of human knowledgeThe word Method, derived from the Greek, signifies a way of transit. Method implies unity with progression. Method must be an act of the Mind itself, which alone unites or makes many one. An universal Method must be sought in the very centre of the Human Intellect. Method is never arbitrary 14 Relations of things are the materials of Method, which is the way of transit from one to the other of related things

Relation of Law is that whereby we understand that a thing must be; Relation
of Theory that whereby we perceive that it is
Relations of Law belong to the Pure Sciences, which deal with necessary truths,
predetermined by the Mind itself, and ever existing in and for the Mind alone;
and in a looser sense, to the Mixed Sciences, in which truths originating in the
Mind are applied to the world without, and constitute the great Laws of
Nature

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Relations of Theory are subservient to the Scientific Arts, such as Medicine,
Chemistry, Physiology -

16

The Method of the Fine Arts lies between Law and Theory. In it Laws of Taste predominate, but it contains other Laws dependent on external objects 16 Tinkling verse and the Harmonica are alike unsatisfactory, because in them the material encroaches on the mental, a proof how truly the Fine Arts involve Laws of the Mind and Relations of Law

Method implies a uniting and a progressive power. Law and Idea are correlative terms; the one (Law) is the laying down of the rule or mode of union, the mental act; the other (Idea) is the rule laid down, the mental object. Thus Idea and Law differ as Being and Truth; the mind objective and subjective, i. e., considered as self-beheld and beholding, the subject being that which, in all workings and movements, of which we are conscious, is inferred, as the agent, quod jacet subter, which lies under what appears: the object that in us, whence the subject is inferred, id quod jacet ob oculos

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The Idea may exist in a distinct form, or as an unconscious impulse
Language is well adapted to lead from the vague sense to the clear beholding
of the Idea

The Progression in Ideas, which is true Method, starts from a rightly chosen
Initiative

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The habit of Method results from a certain education. Objects of sense stimu-
late the mind, which again acts on the food received from without
Excess in methodizing is opposed to the accumulation of fresh material of
thought

According to the true Laws of Method, ideas of Reason and Faith must be held
paramount, those of Physical Experience subordinate. This subordination is
independent of immediate practical utility, which is determined by circum-
stances of the moment

Ideas have a certain relative rank among themselves

Metaphysical Ideas relate to the essence of things as possible, and are independent of actual existence; these are of the highest class. Physical Ideas concern the nature of things actually existing

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The word Nature signifies either the reality of a thing as existent, or the sum
of sensuous things; a physical Idea, or a sensible Impression
Mere arrangement is not Method

Summary

Method is founded on Relations. There are relations of Law and of Theory.
The Method of the Fine Arts comprises both. The Principles of Method are
Union and Progression. Progress requires in the Mind a due mean between
passiveness under outward impression and activity of abstract reflection

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SECTION II.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE PRECEDING PRINCIPLES.

The Principles already stated are to be tested by particular references
Method is important generally, not in processes of intellect alone, but equally
so in the ordering of active and domestic life

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The truly methodical man gives a life to Time, distinguishing its parts, which would otherwise glide on massed together like a stream; realizing its ideal dimensions, giving individuality to its moments

Method in discourse is the sign of mental power and cultivated intellect -
There must be Method in the performance of Moral Duty
Method in speculative meditation is conducive to worldly interest in the pro-
motion and regulation of useful discovery

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