PREFACE.

IN

N the formation of the following Alphabetical List of the English Translations of the Greek and Roman Classics and ancient ecclesiastical Writers, the editor did not foresee the difficulties of the work in which he engaged. Had these appeared at first, this volume had certainly never been promised. But his word being pledged to the public, he was obliged to undertake a task which promised little but labour and vexation, as his materials were scanty, and his information often uncertain and precarious. If he have failed in the execuиtion of his plan, it was not for lack of assiduous labour and attention. These have not only been freely bestowed, but lavished on this meagre performance. As it is properly the first work of the kind on this plan, it cannot be expected to be immaculate, though so much care has been taken to make it so. Dates and Sizes have sometimes been mistaken, and the table of errata will shew how many have been detected and amended. It is hoped that few of importance remain unnoticed, and that the candid reader, considering the difficulty of the work, will be as ready to excuse as to correct them.

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To Bruggemann's view of the English editions of the Greek and Roman classics, &c. 8vo. Stettin 1797, the editor is much indebted; but as that learned foreigner was frequently mistaken both in dates and sizes, it required no small pains to detect these errors and even in some cases, the sources whence they sprang were unattainable.

The best Reviews and literary Journals were carefully examined not only for articles, but for correct critical judgments as the editor never' wished to interpose his own, when he could meet with those on which he could more safely depend.

In numerous cases the works themselves were consulted, and in not a few instances, compared with the originals, and the result of such examination given it is hoped with becoming moderation and candour.

The reader will observe, that the authors are not only given in alphabetical order, but the translations are also chronologically arranged, so that each article appears in the order of time in which it was published. The different editions of the same work will be found under the same law of arrangement.

To the name of each author is added the year before or after the Christian Æra in which he flourished. If some of these dates be found different from those followed by other authors, and even from some in the Bibliographical Dictionary, the reader will please to observe that these were preferred because of their apparent superior

correctness. In several cases however, the best information that could be obtained left the matter still dubious.

From the 262d page, to the 324th the work is occupied by a regularly arranged catalogue of *Arabic and Persian Grammars, Lexicons and Elementary Treatises on those languages; with a comprehensive list of the principal works of the Arabic and Persian writers both printed and MS. To poor scholars who wish to acquire a knowledge of these languages, 'through the medium of the best authors, this certainly will be considered of some importance. The editor hopes he may say without offence, that this is the completest list of the kind, ever offered to the public.

The far greater part of the books and MSS. mentioned in this part of the volume are not described from the report of others, but from careful examination, on this point the reader will rarely be misled.

The Titles, particularly of the MSS. should have been in the Arabic character; but as none of the compositors knew any thing of the language, and the press was at too great a distance from the editor, it was found expedient to compose them in Italics. For the direction of the reader, and in some measure to ascertain the particular characters used, it is necessary to state, that the broad Alif is frequently expressed by a with a circumflex, the ain by two a's, the vau by two o's, and the ya by two ee's. It is not preten

ded that this method of expressing the long vowels, ascertains their genuine pronunciation among the Asiatics; the plan is adopted merely for the sake of distinction.

The reader will observe that the same plan is adopted in the table of khalifs at the end of the succeeding volume..

Nov. 1, 1800,

A. C

ADDITIONS and CORRECTIONS.

Page 5, line 16, f. svo, r. 12mo-p. 7, l. 5, f. different hands, T. Beloe-ib. dele line 7, p. 8, Addison's Anacreon is mentioned twice by mistake-p 8, 1. 17, after 1800, add 12mo. 6th Edit. 1806. 2 vols. with fine heads of the author and translator-p. 12, 1. 8, f. Barrow, r. Burrow. p. 18, 1. 8, after 47, 1. 12, f. EPISTOLCE, r. EPISTOLA-ib. 1. 4. from bottom, f. 4to. г. svo-p. 51, 1. penult. after 1693, add 12mo. Oxf. 1806-p. 40, 1. 5, f. 8vo. r. 18mo-p. 1776. add Oxford 1803-p. 53. 1. penult. dele 8vo. Oxford-p. 78, 1. 20, f. 8vo. r. 12mo-p. 82, f. Simpson, r. Simson-p. 108, 1. ult. after ibid. add 12mo. with plates-p. 109, 1. 6, f. 8vo. r. 12mo-ib. 1. 13, before Lond. f. 8vo. r. 12mo-p. 144, 1. 11, f. 8vo. r. 12mo-p. 147, 1.6, f. 1717, r. 1798-p. 227,1. 2, add some copies were taken off on royal paper. p. 228, 1. penult. after 1776, add svo-p. 229, f. Coleman, r. Colman-p. 250, 1. 25, & 26, f. 1709, r. 1698-p. 269, 1. antepen. for Ameel, r. Amil-p. 271,1. 18, after Loghat, add of p. 281, 1. 24, for Antograph, r. Autograph-p. 291, 1. 6, f. Aasjei, r. Aasjedeep. 297, 1. 17, after gratification, dele in this work-p. 298, instead of the dash 1. 1, add Carmen Tograi-ib. 1. 11, f. Bornah, r. Bordah-p. 305, 1. 12, f. Cuzvinee, r. Cazveenee-319, 1. 9, f. Medicæ,r. Mediceœ-p. 320, 1. 19, f. MS. r. MSS.

The new edition of Guthrie's Translation of Cicero's Letters to Atticus, revised and improved by Mr. J. Jones, mentioned page 74, is now published, 8vo. Lond. 8 vols. printed by Edwards, for Lackington & Co. In this edition, the translation is greatly improved, and many useful notes added; the work is elegantly printed.

In writing the Arabic and Persian names of authors and works, some changes have taken place in the short vowels, as Hatafee for Hatefee, Hafiz for Hafez, &c.