ΤΟ THE SECOND EDITION. THE Compiler has felt much satisfaction from the favourable reception his performance has met with. He has, in particular, been highly gratified by the approbation of several of the masters of the great schools in England, and of the professors in the universities of both kingdoms. The obliging communications he has received from them, and from other gentlemen of the first character for classical learning, he will ever remember with gratitude. Stimulated by such encouragement, he has exerted his utmost industry to improve this edition. The numerous facts and authorities he has added will shew the pains he has bestowed. The Index of Latin words and phrases is considerably enlarged: and an Index of proper names and things is subjoined; for suggesting the utility of which, he is indebted to the authors of the Analytical Review. There are several branches of his subject which still remain to be discussed, and in those he has treated of, he has been obliged to suppress many particulars, for fear of swelling his book to too great a size. It has therefore been suggested to him, that to render this work more generally useful, it ought to be printed in two different forms; in a smaller size for the use of schools, and in a larger form, with additional observations and plates, for the use of more advanced students. This, if he find it agreeable to the public, he shall endeavour to execute to the best of his ability: But it must be a work of time; and he is now obliged to direct his attention to other objects, which he considers of no less importance. As several of the Classics, both Greek and Latin, are differently divided by different editors, it will be proper to mention what editions of these have been followed in the quotations; Casar by Clarke, or in usum Delphini; Pliny, by Brotier; Quinctilian and the writers on husbandry, by Gesner; Petronius Arbiter, by Burmannus; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, by Reiske; Plutarch's Morals, by Xylander; and Dio Cassius, by Reimarus. It is needless to mention the editions of such authors as are always divided in the same manner. Those not divided into chapters, as Appian, Strabo, Plutarch's Lives, &c. are quoted by books and pages. Edinburgh, May 21st, 1792. |