PREFACE. THE approbation with which the former Edition of this Work, under a slightly different title, was received by the public Press generally, so far as a very limited issue would permit the application of such a test, has induced me to publish the present Edition in a form more convenient for general circulation. I have further availed myself of the opportunity thus afforded for maturely weighing friendly hints, unfriendly strictures (particularly the latter), and second thoughts; in order to amend defects variously incidental to a first publication. Any faults that may now remain can claim little allowance on the plea of oversight. With one further remark only will I delay the reader. As it has been objected by some, that the style of the book savours more of advocacy than of commentary, I beg to say, that whatever in the following' original views'* is not specified, or qualified * It is related, I think, by Baron Holberg, in his Outlines of Universal History, that the Spanish author Sepulveda once published an antiquarian Work, apparently for the sake of introducing a single original notion worthy of record, namely, that of deriving the term Era from the initial letters of the words composing the sentence Annus Erat Regnantis Augusti.' And al · in some degree, as being speculative, is my deliberate opinion in each case, formed with as much care and judgment as I am capable of applying to the several subjects discussed. JOHN MURRAY. CHAMBERS, 2, TRINITY COLLEGE, Dublin, February 25, 1852. though the derivation is about as well founded as would be that of the English term News from the initials of the names of the four cardinal points, yet it appears that Sepulveda, on the whole, derived sufficient protection from results ascertained by others, to cover the paucity and poverty of his own 'originalities.' Now, although I feel a moderate hope that Sepulveda's favourite 'idea' may not prove a fit representative of all those which I am about to submit to the reader's criticism, yet I would, were it practicable, most gladly avail myself of the advantage which every modern editor of the Works of any notable ancient author may derive by blending his own remarks with those that are already stamped by the impress of established names. The conclusions, however, at which I have arrived, are so frequently adverse to generally received notions, that it must be solely to the arguments on which they rest that they can owe any favour which they may eventually receive from readers; while the principal of these arguments could not possibly be embodied in a compendium of general annotations.-Revised extract from Preface to First Edition. |