Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-02-29


atoms of many parts of Greece and Alta
Minor have thrown light upon ancient
hi6ory, which could never have been deri-
we'd from theore,ic Geography always ufe-
iefs, becnuie it cannot alter the face oe ma
,ure, and often blamsble, as by fuppolitions
of knowledge, it irpedcs the progsefs of
genuine obirrvatoo, and patient dilcovery.
In order 20 dclinea,e the ancient fate of a
country, it is indifpeuIsble that the beR
modern maps be previously Investigated
by which procels alone can the fises be
accurately determined: and innumerablc con-
jeGiures of Ciuveriua, Ceiiarins, and even
d'Auvile, have been overturned BY the
pveci!ion OF rec. knowledge Yet the 6rR
clements of ancient Geography are often
iaoi!!ed into he minds of youth from obfo-
Iete mapq, in which the NOT important po-
li'ons of Natural Geography, and fomc-
times evca the very points OF the cempafs,
are perverted aud from authors whole
noa radical opinions have been overturned
half century ago. The proper progrefs
is therefore to begin with The Rudy of Mo-
dcrn Geography, which may afterwards be
followed with the greaTe6 advantage, BY
tina, of the anrien:. The oppolite courGe
feems almot as ridiculous as il would be TO
commence the audy of Botany by the Pc
rnial of Doicoride4. end he Geek and
Latin names Of plaute, without any ac-
quaintasce with their genuine chara9eris-
tica and qualities. In general. germs may
be cultivated by the audy of ancient au
thorGG but the grounds of any branch of
iciencc to be fought in modsrn prcciGon.
AmidtS other advan ages al. s4dy iadica-
ted, the regular references to the ou,horities,
here ob!er,cd for the firit time in auy geo
graphical! fyRem, will be admitted 10 DE
confiderabeimnr ovemcut, nol only az imp.r
ting authcn,icity to the tc1:, but as enabling
the reader 20 recur 10 the beie or;giaa;
works, when he is delirNue OF more .p;nu'e
information. Yet this improvement, is 10
imPle hat the omiiiioa might !ccm natter
OF iurPriZe, were 1t not thal former works
OF this nature will genecaliy be found 20 be
b!in',ly copied from preceding fyler,s. with
the iole claim of fuperioriIy in error, ss
rnG happen ia fnch cafes, where uia.kes
multiply, z, an old haucinsiion becomes the
father Of numerous progeny The Rria
q0oiation of authorizes might also be ra-
Their dangerous in erroneous details and
the oniilion is az convesien', az it ia 10 psfa
in fience geographical doubts OF great
Importance, which might prove pcriious orr
deals of fc;ence. Accufcmed to the labors
and p!eaiu,eS OF learning merely for hs
own mental improvement, as the delight of
his cafe, thc relief OF care, the solace of
misfortune, the author never heiitates 10
no. he Ir,,i,~o bfo
5crupico 70 lacriEce the little vanity Of the
individual to HE grand oaic3. the advance
inent Of fcience An emphatic Arabian
proverb declares shat the errors Of the learn
ed ars learned aud even the mieakes of a
patient and uDb;alcd inquirer may often cz-
cite difouiiion, and confequent clucidation
oE the truth. Many bemif1s. will, no
doubt, be found in work Of fuch an ex-
tenfigc and multifarious nature; but .hole
who are chiefly enabled to detea them WILDE
the Era 10 pardon The author can GoIemu-
Iy declare that. in the few centuries which
may he here found Of fome mif'akes in o IL.
thsr works, he has in no inGancc been in
fucaced by any motive, except the rure
win % prefearing exact information luch
dc;c aion Of preceding errors being inlif-
peuiable in a work Of naru9ion But fuch
paGages will be found extremely rare, az he
has generally LET, il to the reader to deteG the
mjaakeo Of his predeceTors, many Of which
arc grofa and radical even beyond concepti-
on, By mere collation. of thcir def,~io,i-
oas with thofs contained in the pfeseu,
work,
COEDI7IO
The Work will ne comprised in 9 oaavo vo.
lumes Of about 500 pages each; and a quarto
Atlas. containing all the Maps.
twill be printed on fine paper and new type;
a Pamphlet (Which may be seen at this oficej to
be considered Specimen OF both.
The price to Subscribers win be 10 dollars,
neatly bound and le;tered-Each volume will be
delivered as soon as finished and no Money
required until the delivery.
1t will be put TO press as soon as400 Subscri.
bers arc obtained.
In order TO produce an immediate encourage.
ment to the Undertaking the sum at which sub
scribers will receive their Books is considerably
under that which will be charged Non-subscri-
bers (tO
~ riptionsarer eceved at 6. Pleasants'
Printing Office, where aspecimen Of the work may
be seen.