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ADVERTISEMENT.

THE plan of the little work begun in this volume has been considerably enlarged since it was first undertaken, and the author fears that a critical eye may be able to detect some traces of this variation from the original design in the manner of treating one or two subjects. He would be glad if he might believe that this was its chief defect. But he is most desirous that the object which he has had in view should be understood.

He thought it probable that his work might fall into the hands of two dif ferent classes of readers, whose wants might not always exactly coincide, but were equally worthy of attention: one consisting of persons who wish to ac-. quire something more than a superficial acquaintance with Greek history, but who have neither leisure nor means to study it for themselves in its original sources; the other of such as have access to the ancient authors, but often feel the need of a guide and an interpreter. The first of these classes is undoubtedly by far the largest, and it is for its satisfaction that the work is principally designed. But the author did not think that this ought to prevent him from entering into the discussion of subjects which he is aware must be chiefly, if not solely, interesting to readers of the other description, and he has therefore dwelt on the earlier part of the history at greater length than would have been proper in a merely popular narrative. Perhaps he may venture to add, that it is the part which seemed to him to have been most neglected by preceding English writers, and to deserve more attention than it had commonly received among us. It was written before the first (the last published) volume of Mr. Clinton's Fasti had appeared.

Another consequence resulting from the nature of his plan is, that he has found it necessary to subjoin a greater number of notes and references than may seem to accord with the unpretending form of the work. He regrets the room which they occupy, and would have been glad to have thought himself at liberty to omit them. But he believes he may safely appeal to the experience of every one conversant with these matters, to attest that they have not been needlessly multiplied. Wherever it could be done without presuming too much on the reader's knowledge, he has contented himself with generally pointing out the sources from which he has drawn, and has only introduced a particular reference where either his conclusions might be thought questionable, or the precise passage which he had in his mind was likely to escape notice, or was peculiarly interesting and instructive. If, however, he should be thought not to have observed the right mean in this respect, or sometimes to have addressed himself to too narrow a circle, or even to have amused himself instead of his readers, he consoles himself by the prospect that in the progress of his work, as its subject becomes more

generally familiar and attractive, he shall have less and less need of indulgence on this head.

There is another point, on which, though of little importance, he wishes to guard against a misunderstanding to which he may have exposed himself. Some readers may remark that the system of orthography which he here follows is widely different from the one adopted in another work to which his name is annexed, and it may be inferred that he thinks that which he now uses the best. To prevent such an imputation, he desires it should be known that he looks upon the established system, if an accidental custom may be so called, as a mass of anomalies, the growth of ignorance and chance, equally repugnant to good taste and to common sense. But he is aware that the public perhaps to show foreigners that we do not live under the despotism of an academy-clings to these anomalies with a tenacity proportioned to their absurdity, and is jealous of all encroachment on ground consecrated by prescription to the free play of blind caprice. He has not thought himself at liberty, in a work like the present, to irritate these prejudices by innovations, however rational and conformable to good and ancient, though neglected usage, and has therefore complied as closely as may be with the fashion of the day.

But with respect to one very numerous class of words, he has not had the benefit of this guidance, nor is he able to plead the like excuse where he has done amiss. As to the mode of writing Greek names in English, there is no established rule or usage of sufficient authority to direct him in all cases, and he has therefore here been left to follow his own discretion. Some readers, perhaps, will think that he has abused this liberty, and will complain that he has not observed a strict uniformity. His own taste would have inclined him to prefer the English to the Latin forms of Greek names and words in every instance; but as the contrary practice is the more general, and most persons seem to think that the other ought to be confined to terms which have become familiar and naturalized in our language, he has not ventured to apply his principle with rigid consistency, where the reader's eye would perhaps have been hurt by it, but has suffered anomaly to reign in this, as in the other department of orthography. He would not fear much severity of censure if those only should condemn him who have tried the experiment themselves, or can point out the example of any writer who has given universal satisfaction in this respect. The only great liberty he has taken is that of writing the real names of the Greek deities, instead of substituting those of the Italian mythology by which they have hitherto been supplanted, though even here he could now defend his boldness by some respectable precedents.

TABLE,

ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL,

TO THE FIRST VOLUME OF

THE HISTORY OF GREECE.

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Kindness to Inferiors-Usages of War

III. Earliest Form of Natural Religion-Religion

of the Pelasgians

Origin of the Greek Mythology-Influence of the
Poets on Religion-Hesiod's Theogony

Greek Mythology, how far derived from the East

-How far formed by the Poets-Traces of Mon-

otheism in the Greek Mythology

Character of the supreme God-Fatalism of the

Greeks

Connexion between Religion and Morality-Ho-
meric View of a future State-Condition of the
Soul after Death--Worship and Sacrifices
Human Sacrifices-Temples and Holy Grounds .
Priests-How far a separate Class
Oracles-Oinens and Divination-Hero-worship
Dæmons-IV. Exaggerated Notions entertained
by the Greeks of Homer's Learning-Homeric
Geography

Wanderings of Menelaus

Homer's View of the Northern and Western Seas
-The Ocean-Course of the Sun

The Ethiopians-Olympus-Navigation

Astronomy-Commerce

Degree to which the useful Arts appear to have

been cultivated-Art of War

Medicine-The fine Arts-Poetry

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Education of the Spartan Youths-Exercises of
Patience-Cultivation of intellectual Faculties,
and of moral Habits

Spartan Syssitia-Military Institutions-System

of Tactics

Maxims of Spartan Warfare-Spartan Laws un-
written-Connexion between the Dorian and
the old Hellenic Institutions

135

136

137

138

Peculiar Circumstances which formed the Dorian
Character-Peculiar Position of the Spartans. 139

CHAPTER IX.

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The Delphic Oracle-Olympic Festival

Presidence of the Olympic Games-Athletic Con-

tests-Nemean and Isthmian Games

Effects of the Olympic Festival as an Instrument
of national Union-Its Effects on the Diffusion
of Knowledge and the Cultivation of the Arts
-Effects on the national Character and Habits
-The Games considered as Spectacles
Difference in the Forms of Government a Cause
of Disunion among the Greeks-Causes which
led to the Abolition of Royalty.

Definitions of various Forms of Government-Ori-

gin of Oligarchy

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curgus
Condition of the Laconian Subjects-The Helots 129
Their Treatment-The Cryptia
The Spartans-Spartan Tribes

128

130

131

Spartan Nobles-Assemblies of the People-The
Gerusia-The Kings.

660 Cypselus overthrows the Bacchiads-Character
of Periander

-

Means by which Oligarchies maintained their
Power Timocracy - Polity - Esymnetes -
Causes which led to the Ruin of Oligarchies
Origin of Tyranny-Policy of the Tyrants
Causes of the short Duration of the tyrannical Dy-
nasties-Interference of Sparta in their Over-

throw

Definition of Democracy-Different Forms of De-
mocracy in Practice-Corruption of Democra-
cy-Ochlocracy

Forms of Government in Arcadia, Tegea, Manti-

nea, Hérea, Elis, Achaia.

Argos, Epidaurus, and Egina-Corinth-the

Bacchiads

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132

Royal Prerogatives-Honours of the Kings-The
Éphors

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