Excerpt from The History of Greece: To Which Is Added, a Chronological Table of Contemporary History

This history, since its first publication, has received many additions and improvements. For as I wrote each of my his tories some improvement suggested itself, which I then trans ferred to its predecessors when they came to a new edition. Of most of these an account will be found in the Preface to the Fourth Edition of my History of Rome. Here I shall only notice one improvement.

The references to authorities in the first edition were rare; not that I was not fully aware of their great importance, but the necessity of keeping the book of a limited size in order that it might be sold at a moderate price, and an idea that those who would use it might care little about authorities, led me to neglect them except in some important cases. I was soon however induced to change my plan by receiving a letter from the late Dr. Arnold of Rugby, in which, when speaking of the work, he said, I lost no time in directing the introduction of your History into this school, where I think it will be found both agreeable and useful. In another edition I think that I would in your case put the authorities at the bottom of the page. Without them the book can only be aboy's book, with them it would be an admirable summary of Grecian history for any one. And I have found by experience in writing his tory, that I like to have the references even as a check upon my own accuracy. I think one is apt otherwise to write a little beyond the warrant of one's authority. But this is a matter of opinion on which many I dare say will differ. There can be no doubt, I think, as to the general merits of your book.

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