| Fallen, fallen, a silent heap; their heroes all Sunk in their urns:—Behold the pride of pomp, The throne of nations fallen; obscured in dust Even yet majestical.—The solemn scene Elates the soul! |
| DYER. |
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THOMAS TEGG, 73, CHEAPSIDE.
MDCCCXL.
LONDON:
BRADBURY AND EVANS, PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS.
(OF THE ALBANY),
THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,
BY
HIS FAITHFUL AND GREATLY OBLIGED
FRIEND AND SERVANT,
THE AUTHOR.
The reader is requested to observe, that, thoughthe plan of this work is entirely his own, the compilerof it does not put it forth as in any way originalin respect to language or description. It is, infact, a much better book, than if it had been whatis strictly called original, (which, indeed, must haveinvolved an utter impossibility:) for it is a selectionof some of the best materials the British Museumcould furnish; sometimes worked up in his ownlanguage; and sometimes—and, indeed, very frequently—inthat of others: the compiler having, atan humble distance and with unequal steps, followedthe plan which M. Rollin proposed to himself, whenhe composed his celebrated history of ancient times.—"Toadorn and enrich my own," says that celebratedwriter, "I will be so ingenuous as to confess,that I do not scruple, nor am ashamed, to rifle whereeverI come; and that I often do not cite the authorsfrom whom I transcribe, because of the liberty Itake to make some slight alterations. I have made thebest use in my power of the solid reflections that occurin the Bishop of Meaux's Universal History, whichis one of the most beautiful and most useful books inour language. I have also received great assistance[Pg vi]from the learned Dean Prideaux's 'Connexion of theOld and New Testament,' in which he has tracedand cleared up, in an admirable manner, the particularsrelating to ancient history. I shall take thesame liberty with whatever comes in my way, thatmay suit my design, and contribute to its perfection.I am very sensible, that it is not so much for a person'sreputation to make use of other men's labours,and that it is in a manner renouncing the name andquality of author. But I am not over-fond of thattitle, and shall be extremely well pleased, and thinkmyself very happy, if I can but deserve the name ofa good compiler; and supply my readers with atolerable history, who will not be over-solicitous toinquire what hand it comes from, provided they arebut pleased with it."
Having followed this example,—the compiler wisheshe could say with equal effect,—he will be fully satisfied,should judicious readers feel inclined to concede,that he has shown some judgment in selecting hismaterials, and some taste in binding "the beads ofthe chain," that connects them together. He disclaims,i