ΤΟ DE M'CULLOCH'S COURSE OF READING, CONTAINING SKETCHES OF THE AUTHORS, AND HEATHEN DEITIES, MENTIONED IN THE VOLUME; WITH THE ETYMOLOGIES AND EXPLANATIONS OF ALL THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, AND OTHER ARTICLES, BY JAMES WHITTON, Author of a "Series of School Books," "The Lost Sheep, EDINBURGH:-SUTHERLAND & KNOX. GLASGOW:-GEORGE GALLIE. PREFACE. THIS little volume is more the creature of necessity than of choice. During a considerable experience, the Author, in putting such questions as the following to his pupils "What is an Afrit?" "Where is the Staubback?" "Who was Agis?" "Who are meant by the Chartreux?" &c. generally received for answer, "I don't know, Sir; I could not get it," ie. the information was not to be found in a common Dictionary. And being convinced that a large proportion of the young persons using "The Course" have few other sources to which they can apply; while a number at least of those more favourably circumstanced as to the means, are not very likely to be much acquainted with the channels through which such knowledge may be obtained, the utility of such a Manual as the present was strongly impressed upon his mind. The manner in which the work has been performed, must, of course, be left to the judgment of others; still the Author, perhaps, may be allowed to remark, that he has spared no pains to make the numerous statements it contains as accurate as possible. The great discrepancy he has frequently met with amongst authorities, in respect to dates, distances, numbers, &c., has made this a more difficult task than he at first imagined. But without here discussing the merits of the conclusions come to, he fondly hopes that they will, on the whole, be found worthy of the confiding confidence of the youthful mind, for whose benefit this Work is chiefly intended. THE THIRD EDITION. An apology is due to the Public for the delay which has occurred in the issuing of this edition. Some of the causes were beyond the Author's control; but one of the principal was, the time required, from the extent of the subject and the Author's other avocations, to prepare with any degree of accuracy the condensed Sketch of Napoleon and his Times. The matter increased so much that it was necessary again and again to reduce it, and yet, perhaps, it will be thought in length, out of keeping with the nature of the volume; still the Author preferred to risk this censure rather than make the sketch uninterestingly meagre. J. W. GLASGOW, April, 1861. A KEY, &c. ABREVIATIONS. Anno Domini, Lat., A.D., In the year of the Lord. Ante Meridiem Lat., A.M., Fore-noon. Artium Magister, A.M., Master of Arts. Cur., Current, or present month. Et cetera, Lat., &c., And the rest. Id est, Lat., i.e., That is. Medicinæ Doctor, Lat., M.D., Doctor of Messieurs, Fr., Messrs. Gentlemen. A, ACRE, or ST. JEAN D'ACRE, an ancient seaport, beautifully situated on the north coast of a fine bay on the Mediterranean, circulating between the town and Mount Carmel on the south, on the west coast of Palestine. Acre is celebrated in the history of the Crusades (see Crusaders), having been taken by the Crusaders in 1191. In more recent times it is famous for its resistance to Bonaparte, who, after besieging it for two months, in the spring of 1799, and losing about 3000 men, was compelled to withdraw without taking the city. In 1832 it was taken by the Pasha of Egypt from the Sultan of Turkey; and, in 1840, it was retaken by the British fleet, after a cannonade of only a few hours, and restored to the Sultan. The town was anciently called Acco or Accho (see Judges i. 31.) and afterwards Ptolemáis, (see Acts xxi. 7.) Acre is now the capital of a Syrian province or Turkish Pashalic to which it gives its name. Population of the town 10,000. ADDISON, JOSEPH, a celebrated author both of poetry and prose, was the son of the Rev. Lancelot Addison, rector of Milston parish, Wiltshire. Here Joseph was B |
