PREFACE.

THIS book was originally intended to be but a re-print of the English work, by Carpenter. His volume, however, was found to contain so much of Biblical criticism, and Classical learning, as to be adapted almost exclusively to the use of the Greek and Hebrew scholar.

It was therefore thought best to revise Carpenter; to omit those classical discussions, and verbal criticisms, which although interesting and valuable to the orientalist, must, from their very nature, be of little service to common readers; and to bring the substance of the Scripture illustrations, found in his volume, within the reach of the readers of the English Bible.

Such a revision of Carpenter's volume, with alterations and additions, was but just accomplished and ready for the press, when the third London edition of his work came to hand, published under countenance of the Book Society for promoting Religious Knowledge,' in which the design above stated was fully pursued, and that too, with evidence of much judgment and good taste.

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The very favorable and commendatory notices which his first editions had received from the 'Eclectic and Monthly Reviews,' 'The Athenæum,' 'The Christian Remembrancer,' The Home Missionary The Baptist,' 'The Methodist,' "The Congregational,'The Evangelical,' and 'Imperial Magazines, and other publications, induced him to prepare an edition better calculated for popular use and general circulation.

'In doing this,' the author remarks in his preface, 'he has borne in mind a suggestion, put forth in a favorable critique upon the first impression, in the "Eclectic Review," and by divesting the work of some of the dryness and tedium of criticism, and making it less diffuse, he has sought to give it a more "popular," though not a less useful character. These alterations have enabled him, without omitting any thing of real value and utility, to bring the volume into a smaller compass, and a more attractive form,'

It was therefore only justice to Mr. Carpenter, to re-publish his own revision of this Book. This has been done, with a few alterations and additions, which it is hoped will render it not less acceptable and useful to readers among us.

The work is intended to be a plain and simple account of the subject of which it treats, to be illustrated with numerous engravings, in a manner suited to the comprehension of those, who have little or no acquaintance with Classical or Scientific Learning.

The English Editors and Reviewers speak in the highest terms of the indefatigable industry displayed in Mr. Carpenter's volume. But we cannot withhold our regret that they, who have noticed with so much approbation the result of his labors, should have unconsciously awarded credit, that takes from another his due.

We cannot but regard the course pursued by Mr. Carpenter as very extraordinary and very unjust. And we respectfully invite his English friends and ours, to compare his volume, with the work of our distinguished countryman, the Rev. Dr. Harris.

In 1793, Dr. H. published his first 'Natural History of the Bible,' which met in this country and in Europe the honorable and flattering reception it deserved.

Twenty-seven years afterwards, in 1820, he published a second volume under the same title. He says in the preface of this, I kept on my table, an interleaved copy, (of his first work) and in the course of my reading, transferred to it, the additional information, which I collected. Desirous of pursuing the investigation still farther, I procured, with considerable expense, many valuable books, which I had not, be.. fore, the opportunity of consulting. In fine, I have re-examined every article, with better knowledge and greater care; have transcribed and new-modelled the whole, and made such amendments and additions throughout, as render this rather a new work, than a new edition; and to its completion and perfection, the studies and acquisitions of more than twentyfive years have contributed,

'I have endeavored to substantiate every article, which I have introduced, by proofs stated with all possible clearness, and to illustrate it by criticisms and explanations; yet I lay claim to no praise, but that of having brought into a regular form, such information as I could collect, from the best and most unexceptionable sources. In the most unrestrained terms I acknowledge that I have borrowed from all authors of es tablished reputation, with freedom,

'I have subjoined a list of the principal books which I have consulted, (a catalogue of fifty three different works) with a reference to the edition, which I used; and would still mention, that in the notes, (scattered through the volume) will be found references to more than twice the number, in the following catalogue.

In short, I have spared neither labor nor expense, in the collection of materials; and have aimed to make my work a useful and valuable treasure of information, and worthy of the approbation of the public.

Of my authorities and the use, which I have made of them, it becomes me to speak with grateful acknowledgments. The first and principal of these is Bochart, who in his Hierozoicon has, in the most learned researches, traced the names of the animals mentioned in Scripture through the different languages and dialects of the East,' &c. &c. 'He had the opportunity of consulting the Nat. Hist. of Damir, and other Arabian authors.

"The Plysique Sacrée of Scheuchzer, in eight volumes folio, is a magnificent work, with which a noble friend in Paris supplied me. It has contributed greatly to enrich my arti cles.'

He thus goes on to enumerate some of the most distinguished authors, who had been of assistance, in treating of the PLANTS, the FISHES, INSECTS, and Precious Stones.

Among these principal authorities, are the names of Hiller, in the Hierophyticon, Celsius in his Hierobotanicon, Diosconides, the Elder Pliny, Alpinus, Rauwolf, Hasselquist, Shaw, Russell, Forskal, Bruce, Rudbeck, Lemnius, Braunius, and Calmet.

The Lexicons of Castel, Buxtorf, Meninski, and Parkhurst were the companions of his labors. The commentaries of Michaelis and the illustrations of Paxton, we may add to swell the list.

Under these circumstances it is, that Mr. Carpenter takes up the work of Dr. Harris, and, changing the arrangement from an Alphabetical to a Scientific one, making some omissions and some alterations, and inserting some valuable additions, claims the work as his own. A comparison of any of the important articles in the two books, such as that on Flax, the Behemoth, the Eagle, the Fox, but much more a comparison of the two entire works will show how much of Mr. Carpenter's materials were made ready to his hand.

But this, is not all; with an unkind and ungenerous insinuation in his preface, calculated to injure Dr. Harris, if not designed to prevent the circulation of his work, and of course, a comparison of the two, which might prove unpleasant to Mr. Carpenter, he announces to the world, that the utter des titution of evangelical sentiment in the volume,' from which he had gathered and gleaned, more than from all other works together, 'renders it unfit for general use.'

To despoil an author of the results of his literary labors, who with indefatigable zeal, and distinguished ability and success has been serving the cause of Science and Biblical Literature with his time, his talents, his labors and his money, for more than a quarter of a century, and then to brand him as a heretic, in order to conceal the robbery, does not appear to us as evincing much of the spirit or practice of piety.

Would that Mr. Carpenter, with all that he has borrowed from the work of Dr. Harris, had taken, also, a note appended to its ingenuous and unassuming preface:

'Est benignum, et plenum ingenui pudoris, fateri per quos profiteris.' Plin. Nat. Hist. Pref.

Justice at least should have been given to one who so early and ably led the way, in the study of the 'Natural History of the Bible.'

It argues little in favor of the purity or liberality of our principles, if we have no eye to discover nor heart to acknowledge the high Literary, Critical and Scientific merit of another, because, forsooth, his Theological opinions may be different from our own.

The circulation of Dr. Harris's work in Europe for many. years (it having passed three editions in London) is a testimony to its value, not easily set aside. And we cannot but hope, that he will favor the literary world, with another edition of his invaluable volume, with such additions and improvements as the lapse of a dozen years will have enabled him to make. And we are sure that Literary and Scientific men of every country, who alone are able to appreciate these labors, will award to him, the full measure of thanks, which he deserves. There is perhaps no living writer who has devoted so much attention to this particular subject, or has such a mass of materials at command.

Perhaps some may think, that the writer of this preface is a friend, or acquaintance of Dr. H., writing under his eye and perhaps at his suggestion, and therefore affects to feel so

sensibly the injuries of the respected Author. The writer deems it as due to himself, to say, that he is neither kinsman, nor acquaintance, and has never, to his knowledge, had the pleasure of seeing the Rev. Dr. Harris. And the latter, as deeply as he must feel his own wrongs, does not dream that such a preface as this is in hand, or probably never heard of its writer. He, if he knows his own heart, would have been equally ready to do the same justice, that he has attempted here, to Mr. Carpenter, had he been the aggrieved and any other individual the aggressor.

But to return to the volume now presented to the Christian community, it is sincerely hoped, that it may contribute, in some good degree, to increase and gratify the interest which the subject of it has at this day so generally awakened.

The American Editor can truly say, that the delightful illustrations of scripture, which have been continually coming before his mind, in the progress of his examinations, have made him more sensible than ever, how much of real, intellectual and moral pleasure and improvement is lost by a want of acquaintance with the Natural History of the Bible.

And therefore does he most cordially commend this study and this volume to the notice of all, and especially of the young, who desire a fuller acquaintance with the beauties and treasures of the Sacred Oracles.

Boston, Oct. 24th, 1832.

GORHAM D. ABBOTT.