M. Bailly; the obfervations on Modern Italy, from Dr Moore, and particularly from Mr Swinburne, to whom every claffical fcholar is obliged for his accurate account of the South of Italy and of Sicily. In the account of the manners of the Germans, which is almost entirely taken from Tacitus, he has availed himself of the elegant tranflation of that author by Mr Murphy: the defcription of Modern Syria and Egypt is moftly copied from the travels of M. Volney and Savary; the geography of India, from the excellent Memoir of Major Rennell; the account of the trade to India and to the New World, of the manners of the Hindoos, and of the native inhabitants of America, from the admired works of Dr Robertson. The ancient hiftory, geography, and mythology, have been carefully collected from the Claffics, whofe very expreffions have, as nearly as poffible, been faithfully transcribed, and the paffages referred to correctly quoted. When the fact is curious or important, the quotations are more numerous. The greatest care has been ufed to omit nothing which might ferve to illuftrate any paffage in a claffic author; and in this part of the work in particular, the compiler has frequently had his labour repaid, by accidentally meeting with explanations or illuftrations of many paffages, which he never before understood. For a more ample account of feveral particulars in ancient mythology, on which he has been very fhort, he refers the reader to Lempriere's Claffical Dictionary, to Natalis Comes, and other larger works on that fubject; for a fuller defcription of the antiquities of Greece, to the Travels of Anacharfis, by the Abbé Barthelemi, and to Potter's Greek Antiquities; concerning ancient geography in general, to Cellarius, Cluverius, and D'Anville. It was originally intended to infert proper maps, both ancient and modern, which are highly requifite in a work of this kind; but the book has fwelled to fo great a fize, that this has been found impracticable. It is therefore therefore propofed to print the maps feparately, in fuch a form, that they may ferve as a small Atlas, at a moderate price. But as they are not yet ready, it must in the mean time be left to the bookfeller to furnish the best he can procure. That the work might be included in one volume, it has been judged proper to print a great deal of important matter in the manner of notes; which, it is hoped, will be found no lefs accurately compiled than if they had been to appear in the moft fplendid form. The great object has been, to condenfe as much useful information as poffible within moderate bounds. The compiler imagines, that in another volume a pretty accurate though brief account might be given of all the most important facts of ancient and modern hiftory, and of every thing moft curious in every country of the globe. A fmall abridgement, containing merely what is requifite for the learner to commit to memory, may perhaps by fome be deemed neceffary: if fo, it may be eafily accomplished; and if any number of teachers fignify their defire, the compiler will execute it to the best of his ability. But with regard to the additional volume, it must be a work of time. And he now means, if the public approve of his prefent attempt, to direct his attention to another undertaking, in which he has already made confiderable progrefs, the compiling of a fhort but comprehenfive Latin and English Dictiona ry, upon a new plan. He was led to think of this, by his having found caufe, in compiling both the prefent work and the Roman Antiquities, to depart in many words from the interpretation given of them by Ainfworth, and all the other Latin and English dictionaries he has met with. He has a further inducement to profecute this undertaking, that the refearches to which it muft naturally lead him, will afford the beft means of improving both this and his former works. He again begs leave to entreat the encouragers of learning, that, if they difcover any mistake, or can fug b gelt geft any improvement, they will have the goodness to communicate it to him. He hopes the industry he has bestowed, and the evident intention of his labours, will difpofe every one who wishes to promote the improvement of youth, to favour him with advice and affiftance. The teftimonies of approbation he has received from feveral of the firft literary characters in the kingdom, and the favourable reception which the Roman Antiquities have met with from the public in general, have encouraged him to enlarge the plan of the prefent work, and to exert his utmoft diligence in improving it, that he might at leaft fhew how highly he values the honour they have done him. He will confider himself happy, if his efforts fhall be thought to merit the continuance of their esteem. The editions of the claffics, which have been confulted in this work, are molly the fame with thofe mentioned in the Roman Antiquitics; Cafar, by Clarke, or in ufum Delphini; Plny, by Brotier; Quinctilian, and the writers on husbandry, by Gefner; Quintus Curtius, by Pitifcus; Dionyfius of Halicarnaffus, by Reifke; Diodorus Siculus, by Weffelingius; Plutarch's Morals, by Xylander; Dio Caffius, by Reimarus; Apollodorus, by Heyne; Paufanias, by Kuhnius; Strabo, (who has moft of all been confulted), by Walters, where the divifions eferred to are marked on the margin of the page; lian, by Perizonius ; Scriptores Mythographi Latini, by rguftinus van Staveren, &c. It is needlefs to mention the editions. of fuch authors as are always divided in the fame man ner. EDINBURGH, 15th May 1794. } CON CONTENTS. PRINCIPLES of the NEWTONIAN PHILOSOPHY, oc- CIENTS, |