SAMUEL SHUCKFORD, D.D. Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty, George the Second. IN FOUR VOLUMES-VOL. 1. Fourth Edition, REVISED, CORRECTED, AND GREATLY IMPROVED, BY JAMES CREIGHTON, B.A. ILLUSTRATED WITH A NEW AND CORRECT SET OF MAPS AND PLANS. LONDON: PRINTED FOR W. BAYNES, 54, PATERNOSTER-Row, ADVERTISEMENT. (RECAP) An Edition of the following work was nearlycompleted in last August, the whole being printed off (a few sheets excepted) when every copy, with many other valuable publications, was consumed by a fire in Mr.HENEY's printingoffice. My much-respected friend, Dr. ADAM CLARKE, was then engaged as editor of the work, to which he had made many corrections, added some notes, and given the ancient alphabets, with important inscriptions, in a more lucid manner than had been done in former editions. But his time being wholly occupied with many imperious calls, he was obliged to decline the re-editing of the present work, and requested me to undertake it. With what fidelity it has been executed, must be left to the judgment of the candid and learned reader. On looking into the original copy, I saw it absolutely necessary to alter Dr. SHUCKFORD's mode of punctuation, to expunge many redundant words, and also to transpose others in innumerable instances; in order to render the sentences more perspicuous, more intelligible, and more harmonious to a modern ear. Every intelligent 29551 854 vol 1499 1 ADVERTISEMENT. reader well knows that very great improvements may be made in these respects, in constructing sentences, even where the sentiments and ideas of an author are faithfully retained. Dr. SHUCKFORD had frequently a whole octavo page, and sometimes more, in one period; and the subdivisions of this were marked only with commas! These are now divided into three or four distinct sentences; and yet the author's sentiments are not at all altered. He had also (like many other writers of the two last centuries, and even some respectable authors of the present day) detached the prepositions of, to, from, by, with, from the pronoun which they govern, and placed them at the end of the sentence. This inelegance, as well as defect in harmony; is here generally avoided; which will facilitate the labour of future editors; and it is hoped, that, upon the whole, many considerable improvements have been made. The notes of Dr. CLARKE, and also those additions and improvements which he had made in that edition which was burned, as far as they could be recovered, are inserted in this. JAMES CREIGHTON. London, May 20, 1808. THE PREFACE. THE design of this undertaking is to set before the reader, a view of the HISTORY OF THE WORLD, from Adam to the dissolution of the Assyrian empire, at the death of Sardanapulus, in the reigns of Ahaz, king of Judah, and Pekah, king of Israel. At this period, the most learned Dean Prideaux began his Connection of the Old and New Testaments, and I would bring my performance down to the times where his work begins; hoping, that if I can set the transactions of these ages in a clear light, my endeavours may be of some service towards forming a judgment of the truth and exactness, of the ancient Scripture history, by shewing how far the old fragments of the heathen writers agree with it, |