It was released to the public on 29 April 1852.[1][page needed] The original edition had 15,000 words and each successive edition has been larger,[2] with the most recent edition (the eighth) containing 443,000 words.[3] Roget was inspired by the Utilitarian teachings of Jeremy Bentham and wished to help "those who are painfully groping their way and struggling with the difficulties of composition [...] this work processes to hold out a helping hand."[4] The Karpeles Library Museum houses the original manuscript in its collection.[2]