Editing Encyclopédie (section)

==Origins==
[[File:Denis_Diderot_111.PNG|thumb|[[Denis Diderot]] ]]
The ''Encyclopédie'' was originally conceived as a French translation of [[Ephraim Chambers]]'s ''[[Cyclopaedia, or Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences|Cyclopaedia]]'' (1728).<ref name=autogenerated2>Magee, p. 124</ref> Ephraim Chambers had first published his ''Cyclopaedia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences'' in two volumes in London in 1728, following several dictionaries of arts and sciences that had emerged in Europe since the late 17th century.<ref>Lough (1971. pp. 3–5)</ref><ref name="RS 1970">[[Robert Shackleton]] "[https://books.google.com/books?id=qEwLAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA390 The ''Encyclopedie'']" in: ''Proceedings, American Philosophical Society'' (vol. 114, No. 5, 1970. p. 39)</ref> This work became quite renowned, and four editions were published between 1738 and 1742. An Italian translation appeared between 1747 and 1754. In France a member of the banking family Lambert had started translating Chambers into French,<ref>''Précis de la vie du citoyen Lambert'', Bibliothèque nationale, Ln. 11217; Listed in Shackleton (1970, p. 130).</ref> but in 1745 the expatriate Englishman [[John Mills (encyclopedist)|John Mills]] and German [[Gottfried Sellius]] were the first to actually prepare a French edition of Ephraim Chambers's ''Cyclopaedia'' for publication, which they entitled ''Encyclopédie''.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

Early in 1745 a prospectus for the ''Encyclopédie''<ref>Recently rediscovered in the ''[[Bibliothèque nationale de France]]'', see [http://blog.bnf.fr/lecteurs/index.php/2010/12/prospectus-pour-une-traduction-francaise-de-la-cyclopaedia-de-chambers/ Prospectus pour une traduction française de la Cyclopaedia de Chambers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326164500/http://blog.bnf.fr/lecteurs/index.php/2010/12/prospectus-pour-une-traduction-francaise-de-la-cyclopaedia-de-chambers/ |date=March 26, 2014 }} blog.bnf.fr, Dec. 2010</ref> was published to attract subscribers to the project. This four page prospectus was illustrated by Jean-Michel Papillon,<ref>[[André-François Le Breton]], Jean-Michel Papillon, Ephraim Chambers. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=-4AxtwAACAAJ Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire universel des arts et des sciences]''. 1745</ref> and accompanied by a plan, stating that the work would be published in five volumes from June 1746 until the end of 1748.<ref>Reproduction from 1745 original in: Luneau de Boisjermain (1771) ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=dIdYAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA165 Mémoire pour les libraires associés à l'Encyclopédie: contre le sieur Luneau de Boisjermain].'' p. 165.</ref> The text was translated by Mills and Sellius, and it was corrected by an unnamed person, who appears to have been [[Denis Diderot]].<ref>[[Philipp Blom]]. ''Encyclopédie: the triumph of reason in an unreasonable age Fourth Estate'', 2004. p. 37</ref>

The prospectus was reviewed quite positively and cited at some length in several journals.<ref>"[https://books.google.com/books?id=9OMTAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA70 Prospectus du Dictionnaire de Chambers, traduit en François, et proposé par souscription]" in: M. Desfontaines. ''Jugemens sur quelques ouvrages nouveaux.'' Vol 8. (1745). p. 72</ref> The ''Mémoires pour l'histoire des sciences et des beaux arts'' journal was lavish in its praise: "here are two of the greatest efforts undertaken in literature in a very long time" (''voici deux des plus fortes entreprises de Littérature qu'on ait faites depuis long-temps'').<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=eX9KAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA934 Review] in: ''Mémoires pour l'histoire des sciences et des beaux arts'', May 1745, Nr. 2. pp. 934–38</ref> The ''Mercure Journal'' in June 1745, printed a 25-page article that specifically praised Mills' role as translator; the ''Journal'' introduced Mills as an English scholar who had been raised in France and who spoke both French and English as a native. The ''Journal'' reported that Mills had discussed the work with several academics, was zealous about the project, had devoted his fortune to support this enterprise, and was the sole owner of the publishing privilege.<ref>''Mercure Journal'' (1745, p. 87) cited in: Lough (1971), p. 20.</ref>

However, the cooperation fell apart later on in 1745. [[André le Breton]], the publisher commissioned to manage the physical production and sales of the volumes, cheated Mills out of the subscription money, claiming for example that Mills's knowledge of French was inadequate. In a confrontation Le Breton physically assaulted Mills. Mills took Le Breton to court, but the court decided in Le Breton's favour. Mills returned to England soon after the court's ruling.<ref>Mills' summary of this matter was published in [[:fr:Pierre-Joseph Luneau de Boisjermain|Boisjermain]]'s ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=wRhBAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA162 Mémoire pour P. J. F. Luneau de Boisjermain av. d. Piéc. justif]'' 1771, pp. 162–63, where Boisjermain also gave his version of the events (pp. 2–5).</ref><ref>Comments by Le Breton are published in his biography; in the preface of the encyclopedia; in John Lough (1971); etc.</ref> For his new editor, Le Breton settled on the mathematician [[Jean Paul de Gua de Malves]]. Among those hired by Malves were the young [[Étienne Bonnot de Condillac]], [[Jean le Rond d'Alembert]], and [[Denis Diderot]]. Within thirteen months, in August 1747, Gua de Malves was fired for being an ineffective leader. Le Breton then hired Diderot and d'Alembert to be the new editors.<ref>Blom, pp. 39–40</ref> Diderot would remain as editor for the next 25 years, seeing the ''Encyclopédie'' through to its completion; d'Alembert would leave this role in 1758. As d'Alembert worked on the ''Encyclopédie'', its title expanded. As of 1750, the full title was ''Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, par une société de gens de lettres, mis en ordre par M. Diderot de l'Académie des Sciences et Belles-Lettres de Prusse, et quant à la partie mathématique, par M. d'Alembert de l'Académie royale des Sciences de Paris, de celle de Prusse et de la Société royale de Londres.'' ("Encyclopedia: or a Systematic Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Crafts, by a Company of Persons of Letters, edited by M. Diderot of the Academy of Sciences and ''[[Belles-lettres]]'' of Prussia: as to the Mathematical Portion, arranged by M. d'Alembert of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Paris, of the Academy of Sciences in Prussia and of the Royal Society of London.") The title page was amended as d'Alembert acquired more titles.{{cn|date=June 2023}}