14 FEBRUARY 1863, Page 20

The Dictionary of Useful Knowledge. Two vols. (Eloulston and Wright.)

—The object of this work is to "supply a history of persons and places, and an explanation of principles, copious enough to convey all essential information, but so concise as not to weary the reader nor tax his time unduly, but just enough to enable him to join in conversation upon any of the topics without fear of committing some palpable blunder." Too much must not, of course, be expected from a book which aims at com- pressing so wide a field within the compass of two very moderate-sized volumes ; but, considering this circumstance, we are of opinion that the work is likely to be serviceable to those who are in want of a cheap and compact work of reference for general purposes. It is designed as a companion to the Dictionary of Daily Wants, published by the same firm.