A COMPEND OF HISTORY, FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES; COMPREHENDING A GENERAL VIEW OF THE PRESENT STATE OF THE WORLD, WITH RESPECT TO CIVILIZATION, RELIGION, AND GOVERNMENT; AND A BRIEF DISSERTATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE. BY SAMUEL WHELPLEY, A. M. SIXTH EDITION, WITH CORRECTIONS, TWO VOLUMES IN ONE. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY RICHARDSON & LORD. J. H. A. Frost, Printer.......Congress-street. VARD COLLEGE LIBRARY GIFT OF DE ANTHUS PUMPTON DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, to wit: District Clerk's Of BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the twenty-third day of A. D. 1820, in the Forty-fourth Year of the Independence United States of America, WEST, RICHARDSON & LORD, said District, have deposited in this Office, the Title of a the right whereof they claim as Proprietors in the words foll to wit: "A Compend of History, from the earliest times; compr ing a General View of the Present State of the World, w spect to Civilization, Religion and Government; and Dissertation on the Importance of Historical Knowledg SAMUEL WHELPLEY, A. M. Principal of the Newark Ac Fourth Edition, with Corrections, By Rev. JOSEPH EM Principal of the Byfield Seminary. Two Volumes in one. In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by s the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and etors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned also to an act entitled, “An act, supplementary to an act, an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing th of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors copies, during the times therein mentioned; and extend benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and historical and other prints." JOHN W. DAVIS, TO THE REV. SAMUEL MILLER, D. D. ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES IN THE CITY OF NEW-YORK, &c. &c. REVEREND SIR, WITH little more claim on you than what the mass of society have on the benevolent notice of the learned, the wise, and the good, I have presumed to inscribe to you the following Compend of History; the chief merit of which, I am highly sensible, must consist much in the motive of the author. Destined by Providence to be entrusted with the education of youth, I have long regarded it as an important inquiry, what branches of knowledge and what modes of instruction are best calculated to benefit the young mind-what objects will be most likely to arrest the attention, enlarge the understanding, strengthen the memory, and promote virtuous dispositions. If Whilst, on the one hand, I have not the vanity to think that I have made any important discoveries in this inquiry; so, neither am I discouraged, on the other, by the reflection that the wise and learned in every age have been more or less engaged in the same inquiry. the lapse of ages has corrected the errors of Lycurgus, Solon, and Aristotle, it is presumed that the most approved systems of the present day, having endured a similar test, will also be found defective. The study of history is too much neglected in our. present course of education; and I am strongly impressed with the belief that children may lay a broad foundation for historical knowledge, while learning to read, and may become very generally acquainted with history, merely in a common course of school reading. No species of instruction so easily or so deeply imprints itself on the memory of youth, as that which is clothed in simple narration and description; especially if that narration convey interesting facts-and if that descript engage and delight the imagination. It has often b observed, that an early taste for reading is likely enkindle in the mind a desire for general improveme and, if I may be allowed to appeal to my own experien the reading of history was the first thing which awake in me a desire to study the sciences. With these views, Reverend Sir, I have been indu to publish the following Compend. I have often fo myself embarrassed, in passing through so wide a fiel with such rapidity. A selection and arrangement w desired that would mark an unbroken line, and give reader a just, general and connected impression. far I have succeeded in the attempt the reader judge. Had I more leisure, or a better judgment, work would have been more correct. But, as it hope it will answer the purpose for which it is desig and, especially, that it may be so fortunate as to gain sanction of your approbation. While modesty forbids me to say many things, w the voice of sincerity would prompt, I deem it but ju declare, that as far as dedication may be regarded mark of high personal respect-as far as presumin the benevolent patronage of men of learning and ta is ever safe-and as far as a writer may hope to be his production by inscribing it to a name which must adorn the temple of science-so far I felicitate myse this occasion: And am, Reverend Sir, with the highest esteem and consideration, your most obedient and very humble servant, SAMUEL WHELPLI |