AND

INQUIRIES

RELATING TO

VARIOUS PARTS OF ANTIENT HISTORY;

CONTAINING

DISSERTATIONS

ON

THE WIND EUROCLYDON,

AND ON THE

ISLAND MELITE.

TOGETHER WITH

AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT

IN ITS MOST EARLY STATE,

AND OF THE

SHEPHERD KINGS:

WHEREIN THE TIME OF THEIR COMING, THE PROVINCE WHICH THEY PARTICULARLY POSSESSED, AND TO WHICH THE ISRAELITES AFTER

WARDS SUCCEEDED, IS ENDEAVOURED TO BE STATED.

The Whole calculated to throw Light on the History of that Antient Kingdom, as well as on the Histories of the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Babylonians, Edomites, and other Nations.

I WOULD not presume to introduce the ensuing Treatises to your Grace's notice, were I not well acquainted with your love of truth, and your zeal to obtain it through the most severe investigation. A mind so devoted is the best judge of evidence in every degree, being influenced by a more exquisite taste and discernment, and enriched with superior knowledge. It is from this principle, my Lord, that you have been so happy in every rational attainment, and led to an union with virtues the most similar to your own. Hence it is, that I am emboldened to lay before your Grace the following Dissertations, which contain matter of dark and remote enquiry; and are the fruits of that ease and retirement, with which, under Providence, I am blest by your benevolence

1

and favour. These are the only returns I can make for the many signal instances of your goodness. Beyond these I have nothing left, but prayers and wishes for you long and intimately to enjoy that happiness, which, like a salutary emanation, you so widely diffuse to others. I shall not attempt to make any display of your high endowments, and hereditary great qualities. May it be the peculiar happiness of these times never to stand in need of such approved worth and excellence. Let the calm with which we are flattered, long continue; that nothing may interfere with your noble and ingenuous pursuits, nor ruin the happy tendency of your studies; much less in any degree interrupt your domestic felicity.

Permit me to subscribe myself with the highest sense of duty and esteem,

MY LORD,

Your Grace's most faithful

And most obliged humble Servant,

Cypenham, May 1st, 1767.

JACOB BRYANT.

THE following Treatises have been compiled from observations made in the course of my reading many years ago; which I thought might be of some service, if they were brought under proper arrangement, and illustrated with farther evidence. This, I imagined, would not be attended with any great trouble, as the general outlines were already planned in my mind; and the principal materials were prepared. But I did not consider, how very different it is, to be one's self thoroughly persuaded of a truth, and to be able to exhibit the same in such a light, as to obtain the like conviction in others. I was not aware of the many learned men of the highest repute with whom I was to engage: nor the unexpected objections, and variety of opinions (many of them rendered almost sacred by antiquity) with which I was to be opposed. The labour, that has arisen from hence, has been far greater than can be well conceived; and the stating