Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-06-27


tory Of mankind in
five volumes. BY
JOHN BIGLAND,
Author of Letters on Ancient and Mo.
dern History" g Essays on vari-
Gus sucjects :" 49, a.,
THIS well altered TO the American
nul,,,c with undouoting confidence Of sue
.cess ;---bccause in government ike ours
a general knowledge OF Geography and
History is nece ssary to almost every man /;
bus Every man has not time nor opportun.
ty 10 acquire Knowledge Of ali the par
tioulars relating 10 these interesting sub
Jeots tbs work proposed contains a COM
pretensvc, clear, and distinct view of the
nations OF the earth, from their earhe.t
period 10 the present day; "tEe origin, the
progress, the decline Of nations and en-
pires the wonderful effects produced by
the wo's king OF the passions, aud the force
ofeenius .the surprising varie of laws,
manners, customs, ard opinions; the events
which have SO frequently changed the face
OF the world events which have such an
Intimate conneXion with the concerns of
man, that, while he remains without know
ledge OF them, he is like u stranger in his
native land - History says Cicero, SIS
the light of truth, the directress of life
Is there single error, or hurtiul preju-
dice, from which il cannot preserve us, lys-
the pictures it draws Of the foilies andM-
lusions ~ which men have beenled astfay p
Is there vice whose deform ty anf unf
happy Consequences it does not lepresfnt o.
num5eress examples Oris there Mgtues
of winch it does not Inspire the love, Dy-
rendering sacred the name of the virtuous
IL hrV. .tt ~. = r
which it does not afford some EXCELLENT in
structions, or which my not be>lrefited
in some degree, by the knowledge Mlich.
1t communicates ~
The following extracts from the preAce>
TO the work, will give the reader SSatis-
factory view of the authors desiH
photography and History sISfwo great
luminarles, which reciprocyN their light,
and ought ever TO be IN ss4ile mode or o
ther. coDcomitants.
Ike utility ofeIbese studies is so well
Known and acknowft dyed, hat long pre-
face IS unnecessary to a work on utjects
SO Important and so universally interesting
Many books, however, both on geography
ana history, beng abroad in tie world,
some apology may perhaps be expected for
aodlrg anotner TO the number. Without
pretending TO doprecia,e the labcgs OF o.
thers, 1t VIII nGt.be amss to observe, that
this conpend um being constructed on
plsnentirely new, and compiled from ORR
giDal authorities, its use Will not be super
cedeu by any work which IS at present tx
tant. Most Of the works that treat of uni =
versai history are too vCluminous to be ge-
Derally purchased or read the histories
oil particular nations are IN proportion SUI
more prol'x. Several volu aes are written
on the effects of single reign, and often on
the life and trans 4ctons of single inoivI.
dual. According to this mode of writing
and studying history, the present genera
zion would hHd fol- employ ment in re ad,nR
the actions OF those that are asst, * human
life would scarcely afford a sufIc ent length
of time for acquiring knowledge ofthe e.
vents Of former ages. From these consider.
atoms it is evident that compression, as
well as perspicuity, 10 requisite in SO vast
a range Of inquuy. Tie work here offcr.
ed to ihe pubhe is intended to comprise,
within the least possible compass, ali that
Is of the grea,ess Importance IN tbe geo.
grsphy o. The globe and liz history 4 mn
kind. The uuh,y of thcd1s IA lk3harce
y DC controverteG IN tegl#tU IKE
cuuon, have spared 20 ps<As 10 c E,ine
aud consult ne i've best amino Ggs "a has
been my prinrpa1 care not 70 a.
'hctions Tor facts, or romance fcT 80
NSlaSttJ hoo ONNh hil Hihl5 lSIsllCl $500
cOncisen SIS my mex, object.
Tie design Ct MS work being 70 ex1i
bit distinct ard comprehensive view OF
the different nations OF mark nd through
oil their gradations & revelations, from tne
earliest perIods 81 historical r. cord td tn,
present day, 1t n,sy not be aniss 10 give
general idea OF a plan, which embraces S
vide range, and comprises so reatava
riety OF subjects In the FIRST place IS trea.
ted the geography oi each country, with al
ITS physical circumstances ard principa,
productions, whetDer u tie mineral. "
getaDle, OF animal kingdom, Tne nc xt ar.
.title consists OF subscription Of the priaci.
pal cities and cditices tho striking mo.
fumegts OF human art aid industry. In th,s
department | nave endeavored u describe
Aith a much accuracy as the limits Of The
WORK you'd allow the capitals Of the DIFF
terenFempires Kingdoms, ard states. with
their arts, IiteratuteJ ana state Of society.
SUBJECTS greatly neglected IN most gcogrs-
phicsl works. The metropolis oi a stat,
being generally the locus in which its pow.
er and grandeur are chiefly concentrated
Is an object Of great 10 poTtance in its his
toty. The philosophical observer w,l, not |
regard II merely as an asseBolage OF stteets |
and houses, COLLECTION OF brick and NOR
tor he viii view it as the graod ,hea,r,
on which the opulence, me talsnts. and AZ |