other encyclopedias have provided analogous outlines of knowledge. in the preface to the famous "encyclopédie" (published 1751–1772), d'alembert provides a roadmap to the knowledge of his time. inspired by that example, in a letter dated 15 november 1812, dugald stewart proposed to archibald constable, the owner and publisher of the "britannica", that the supplement to its 5th edition should begin with a series of dissertations that outlined and organized the knowledge of their time.