Twenty-six Volumes are now published of this favourite Series, enumerated as under. The entire Series contains upwards of SEVEN THOUSAND pages of closely printed matter. They are entirely original in Plan, executed with the most conscientious care,— and embrace the very essence of demonstrative Truth and inductive Reasoning. The Indices have been prepared with great labour, and alone occupy above 500 pages. A vast Fund of valuable Information, embracing every Subject of Interest or Utility, is thus attainable, and at a merely nominal Cost.

These Works are in such general demand, that the Sale has already reached considerably more than

ONE

MILLION VOLUMES.

The attention of all parties interested in the dissemination of sound theoretical Instruction and practical Knowledge is particularly directed to the Twenty-six Volumes in this Series of Popular and Valuable Books.

1—3. “DAILY WANTS, THE DICTIONARY OF," a Cyclopædia embracing nearly 1,200 pages of sound Information upon all matters of Practical and Domestic Utility. The sale of nearly 100,000 copies of this Work affords the best evidence of its intrinsic value.

4-7. "USEFUL KNOWLEDGE, THE DICTIONARY OF," a Book of Reference upon History, Geography, Science, Statistics, &c. A Companion Work to the "Dictionary of Daily Wants.”

8 & 9. "MEDICAL AND SURGICAL KNOWLEDGE, THE DICTIONARY OF," a complete Practical Guide on Health and Disease, for Families, Emigrants, and Colonists.

10. "ENQUIRE WITHIN UPON EVERYTHING."

11. "THE REASON WHY, DENOMINATIONAL," giving the Origin, History,

and Tenets of the various Christian Sects, with the Reasons assigned by themselves for their specialities of Faith and forms of Worship.

12. "THE REASON WHY, PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY," containing upwards of 1,200 Reasons, explanatory of the Physical Phenomena of the Earth and the Sea, their Geological History, and the Geographical distribution of Plants, Animals, and the Human Families.

13. "THE REASON WHY, BIBLICAL AND SACRED HISTORY," a Family Guide to Scripture Readings, and a Handbook for Biblical Students.

14. "THE REASON WHY, GENERAL SCIENCE," a Collection of many Hundreds of Reasons for things which, though generally received, are imperfectly understood.

15. "THE REASON WHY, HISTORICAL," designed to simplify the study of English History, and to arouse a disposition to trace the connection between the Cause and the Event.

16. THE REASON WHY, NATURAL HISTORY," giving REASONS for very numerous interesting Facts in connection with the Habits and Instincts of the varicus Orders of the Animal Kingdom.

17. "THE REASON WHY, GARDENING AND FARMING," giving some Thousands of Reasons for various Facts and Phenomena in reference to the Cultivation and Tillage of the Soil.

18. "THE REASON WHY, HOUSEWIFE'S DOMESTIC SCIENCE," affording to the Manager of Domestic Affairs intelligible Reasons for the various duties she has to superintend or to perform.

19. "JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY ALL ROUND OUR HOUSE; OR, THE INTERVIEW," containing additional Information upon Domestic Matters

20. "THE PRACTICAL HOUSEWIFE AND FAMILY MEDICAL GUIDE," a Series of Instructive Papers on Cookery, Food, Treatment of the Sick, &c., &c.

21. "THE FAMILY SAVE-ALL," a System of Secondary Cookery, with Invaluable Hints for Economy in the use of every Article of Household Consumption.

22. "NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS," a Work full of curious Matters of Fact; a collection of important Information on all Subjects, from real Answers to Correspondents of various Magazines and Newspapers.

23. "THE CORNER CUPBOARD," containing Domestic Information, numerous Needlework Designs, and Instructions for the Aquarium, Skeleton Plants, &c.

24. "LIFE DOUBLED BY THE ECONOMY OF TIME," and "How A PENNY BECAME A THOUSAND POUNDS." The first of these Works teaches the Value of Moments, and shows how Life may be abridged and fall short of its true aim and happiness, by a careless indifference to trifles of Time. The second Work pursues a similar argument with reference to Money, which is the representative of all things of material Value. 25 & 26. "WONDERFUL THINGS OF ALL NATIONS."

LONDON January, 1869.

PREFACE BY THE EDITOR.

Ir there be any among my Readers who, having turned over the pages of "ENQUIRE WITHIN," have hastily pronounced them to be confused and ill-arranged, let them at once refer to THE INDEX,* and for ever hold their peace.

The INDEX is, to the vast congregation of useful hints and receipts that fill the boundary of this volume, like the DIRECTORY to the great aggregation of houses and people in London.

No one, being a stranger to London, would run about asking for "MR. SMITH." But, remembering the Christian name and the profession of the individual wanted, would turn to the DIRECTORY, and trace him out.

Like a house, every paragraph in "ENQUIRE WITHIN" has its number,—and the INDEX is the DIRECTORY which will explain what Facts, Hints, and Instructions inhabit that number.

For, if it be not a misnomer, I am prompted to say that "ENQUIRE WITHIN" is peopled with thousands of ladies and gentlemen, who have approved of the plan of the work, and contributed something to its store of useful information. There they are, waiting to be questioned, and ready to reply. Only a short time ago, the facts and information now assuming the conventional forms of printing types, were active thoughts in the minds of many persons. Their fingers traced those thoughts upon the page, for the benefit of whomsoever might need informa tion. We must not separate the thought from the mind which gave it birth; we must not look upon these writings as we should upon the traces left by the snail upon the green leaf, having neither form nor meaning. Behind each page some one lives to answer for the correctness of the information imparted, just as certainly as where, in the window. of a dwelling, you see a paper

The Index will be found at page 357.

directing you to "ENQUIRE WITHIN," some one is there to answer you.

Old Dr. KITCHINER lives at No. 45; Mrs. HITCHING lives at 202; Mrs. CHILD lives at 1805; Mr. BANTING at 1663; Dr. STENHOUSE at 1670; Dr. ERASMUS WILSON at 1594; Dr. SOUTHWOOD SMITH at 1638; Dr. BLAIR at 1957; M. SOYER at 1064; Dr. BABINGTON at 2163; Dr. CLARKE at 2140; a DOCTOR lives at 451; a GARDENER at 224; a SCHOOLMASTER at 168; a DANCING MASTER at 124; an ARTIST at 2296; a NATURALIST at 2085; a MODELLER at 2102; a Cook at 972; a PHILANTHROPIST at 1287; a LAWYER at 1359; a SURGEON at 767; a CHESS PLAYER at 57; a CHEMIST at 632; a BREWER at 2044; and so on.

Well! there they live-always at home-knock at their doors -ENQUIRE WITHIN, NO FEES TO PAY!!

We have taken so much care in selecting our information, and have been aided by so many kind friends in the production of our Volume, that we cannot turn to any page without at once being reminded of the GENEROUS FRIEND WHO ABIDES THERE.

To some extent, though in a far less degree, we have been indebted to the authors of the following useful books. In the first place we must express our chief obligations to "Dr. KITCHINER'S COOK'S ORACLE;" to "THE COOK," in "Houlston and Wright's Industrial Library;" "THE SHOPKEEPER'S GUIDE," "THE WIFE'S OWN COOKERY," "HOME TRUTHS FOR HOME PEACE," "THE PRACTICAL HOUSEWIFE," and to several of the Volumes of the "REASON WHY" SERIES.

LONDON, January, 1869.