the Rev. Mr. Tooke, and Mr. George Nicol. And as an act of justice should not be forborne, through fear of imputed vanity, or presumption, he ventures to add to this list, his two sons, the one of Trinity College, Cambridge, the other of the Bengal Civil Establishment. It remains that something should be said respecting the Maps that are meant to explain and to illustrate the different subjects of the book. Some of the general maps, may possibly be complained of, for the smallness of their scales; but as they must of necessity be folded into the book, they could not conveniently be made larger. Besides, it was deemed sufficient to give correct outlines alone, of a system of geography, the particulars of which might be found, generally, in the existing systems; although framed for an age posterior to that of Herodotus. The general maps relating to Western Scythia, to the Satrapies, and to Libya, are given here, with more detail than the others, because they will be found less perfect, in the existing systems: and it is hoped, that, on the whole, the reader will not often find himself at a loss, in the explanation of the geography. Whensoever it may happen, great aid will be derived from the ancient geography of M. D'Anville (the only system of the kind, that can be deemed at all perfect; and unquestion ably, as far as he was in any degree master of the actual geography, a work incomparable in its kind). His maps of the ancient World, of the Roman Empire, Asia Minor, and ancient Egypt, will probably satisfy the reader in every case where he is at a loss, in respect of particular situations, in the maps contained in this work. To prevent misconceptions, regarding the ancient Map of Egypt, (No. VII.) the reader is informed, that as no copy is known to exist from whence the form of the ancient coast of the Delta could be delineated, the Author could do no other than describe it under its present form. It is almost certain that no considerable change can have taken place either at Canopus or Pelusium: nor can it be supposed that the additions to the intermediate part can have been such, as to occasion any sensible difference, in a general map: since Herodotus has remarked, that Busiris stood in the middle of the Delta, in which position its supposed remains are now found. It is remarked, in the course of the work, that, as the coast of the Delta advances into deeper water, its progress, in point of extent, must necessarily be slower. In some of the general maps, a great proportion of modern geography will be found; which it was impossible to separate from the ancient, without much injury to the main subject; as by a comparison of the two, on the spot, the mutual relation to each other will be best understood. The ancient names have a dash under them; if not otherwise distinguished on the spot. The bulk of the Volume is unquestionably a fault and is owing to the Author's having made a wrong calculation of the quantity of matter at the outset. Had a correct estimate been made, as much of the matter would have been withheld, as to reduce the book to a more moderate size and price. Such, however, as it is, the Author ventures to offer it to an IMPARTIAL PUBLIC; Conscious, indeed, of its defects; but conscious also, that they do not arise from a remission of labour or attention. London, Jan. 1st, 1800. |