Preface to MACBEAN'S DICTIONARY of THE neceffity of Geography to historical, political, and commercial knowledge, has been proved too often to be proved again. The curiofity of this nation is fufficiently awakened, and no books are more eagerly received than those which enlarge or facilitate an acquaintance with distant countries. But as the face of the world changes in time by the migration of nations, the ravages of conqueft, the decay of one empire, and the erection of another; as new inhabitants have new languages, and new languages give new names; the maps or defcriptions of a later age are not eafily applied to the narrations of a former: thofe that read the Ancients must study the ancient geography, or wander in the dark, without diftinct views or certain knowledge. Yet though the Ancients are read among us, both in the original languages and in tranflations, more perhaps than in any other country, we have hitherto had very little affiftance in ancient Geography. The treatife of Dr. Wells is too general for ufe, and the Claffical Geographical Dictionary, which commonly paffes under the name of Echard, is little more than a catalogue of naked names. A more ample account of the old world is apparently wanting to English literature, and no form seemed equally commodious with that of an alphabetical feries. In effect, however fyftematically any book of General Geography may be written, it is feldom ufed otherwife than as L MACBEAN's DICTIONARY. 489 as a Dictionary. The ftudent wanting fome knowledge of a new place, feeks the name in the index, and then by a fecond labour finds that in a fyftem which he would have found in a dictionary by the first. As dictionaries are commodious, they are likewife fallacious he whofe works exhibit an apparent connexion and regular fubordination cannot easily conceal his ignorance, or favour his idlenefs; the, completeness of one part will show the deficiency of another: but the writer of a dictionary may filently omit what he does not know; and his ignorance, if it happens to be difcovered, flips away from cenfure under the name of forgetfulness. This artifice of lexicography I hope I fhall not often be found to have used. I have not only digefted former dictionaries into my alphabet, but have confulted the ancient geographers, without neglecting other authors. I have in fome degree enlightened ancient by modern geography, having given the fituation of places from later obfervation. Names are often changing, but place is always the fame, and to know it exactly is always of importance: there is no ufe of erring with the ancients, whofe knowledge of the globe was very imperfect; I have therefore used ancient names and modern calculations. The longitude is reckoned from London to the eaft and weft. A work like this has long been wanted: I would willingly flatter myself that the want is now fupplied; and that the English ftudent will for the future more eafily understand the narratives of ancient hiftorians, the reafonings of ancient statesmen, and the defcriptions of ancient poets. LET LETTER S. SIR, S LETTER I. To MR. CAVE. Nov. 25, 1734. As you appear no lefs fenfible than your readers of the defects of your poetical article, you will not he displeased, if, in order to the improvement of it, I communicate to you the fentiments of a perfon, who will undertake on reasonable terms fometimes to fill a column. His opinion is, that the public would not give you a bad reception, if, beside the current wit of the month, which a critical examination would generally reduce to a narrow compass, you admitted not only poems, infcriptions, &c. never printed before, which he will sometimes fupply you with; but likewife fhort literary differtations in Latin or English, critical remarks on authors ancient or modern, forgotten poems that deferve revival, or loofe pieces, like Floyer's *, worth preferving. By this method your literary article, for fo it might be called, will, he thinks, be better recommended to the public, than by low jests, awkward buffoonery, or the dull fourrilities of either party. If fuch a correfpondence will be agreeable to you, be pleased to inform me in two pofts †, what the conditions *See Gent. Mag. 1734, p. 197. Sir John Floyer's Letter to Mr. King in recommendation of the Cold Bath. + "Answered, December 2.” E. CAVE. are are on which you shall expect it. Your late offer gives me no reason to diftruft your generofity. If you engage in any literary projects befides this paper, I have other designs to impart, if I could be fecure from having others reap the advantage of what I fhould hint. Your letter, by being directed to S. Smith, to be left at the Castle in Birmingham, Warwickshire, will reach Your humble fervant. LETTER II. To MR. CAVE. Greenwich, next door to the Golden-Heart, Church-street, July 12, 1737. SIR, HAVING observed in your papers very uncommon offers of encouragement to men of letters, I have chofen, being a stranger in London, to communicate to you the following defign, which, I hope, if you join in it, will be of advantage to both of us. The Hiftory of the Council of Trent having been lately tranflated into French, and published with large notes by Dr. Le Courayer, the reputation of that book is fo much revived in England, that, it is prefumed, a • A prize of fifty pounds for the best poem, " on Life, Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell." See Gent. Mag. vol. IV. p. 560. N. new new tranflation of it from the Italian, together with Le Courayer's notes from the French, could not fail of a favourable reception. If it be anfwered, that the history is already in English; it must be remembered, that there was the fame objection against Le Courayer's undertaking, with this difadvantage, that the French had a verfion by one of their best tranflators, whereas you cannot read three pages of the English History, without discovering that the style is capable of great improvements; but whether those improvements are to be expected from this attempt, you must judge from the fpecimen, which, if you approve the propofal, I fhall fubmit to your examination. Suppose the merit of the verfions equal, we may hope that the addition of the notes will turn the balance in our favour, confidering the reputation of the annotator. Be pleased to favour me with a fpeedy answer, if you are not willing to engage in this fcheme; and appoint me a day to wait upon you, if you are. WHEN I took the liberty of writing to you a few I did not expect a repetition of the fame plea days ago, |