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.
Principal of the Newark Academy.

Ninth edition, with corrections, and important additions and
improvements.

BY REV. JOSEPH EMERSON,

Principal of the Female Seminary at Wethersfield.

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, viz:

District Clerk's Office.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the thirtieth day of June, A. D. 1825, in the forty-ninth year of the Independence of the United States of America, Richardson & Lord, of the said District have deposited in this Office, the Title of a book, the right whereof they claim as Proprietors, in the words following, to wit.

"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. Principal of the Newark Academy. Ninth Edition, with Corrections, and important Additions and Improvements. By Rev. Joseph Emerson, Principal of the Female Seminary, at Wethersfield. Two volumes in one. Vol. I.

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned ;" and also to an act, entitled, "An act, supplementary to an act, entitled, an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical, and other prints." JOHN W. DAVIS,

Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.

HARVARD COLLESS LIJNARY
GIFT OF THE

MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY

MAR 40 1939

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.

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. If 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 narra

tion convey interesting facts-and if that description engage and delight the imagination. It has often been observed, that an early taste for reading is likely to enkindle in the mind a desire for general improvement; and, if I may be allowed to appeal to my own experience, the reading of history was the first thing which awakened in me a desire to study the sciences.

With these views, Reverend Sir, I have been induced to publish the following Compend. I have often found myself embarrassed, in passing through so wide a field-with such rapidity. A selection and arrangement were desired that would mark an unbroken line, and give the reader a just, general and connected impression. How far I have succeeded in the attempt, the reader must judge. Had I more leisure, or a better judgment, the work would have been more correct. But, as it is, I hope it will answer the purpose for which it is designed, and, especially, that it may be so fortunate as to gain the sanction of your approbation. While modesty forbids me to say many things, which the voice of sincerity would prompt, I deem it but just to declare, that as far as dedication may be regarded as a mark of high personal respect-as far as presuming on the benevolent patronage of men of learning and talents is ever safe-and as far as a writer may hope to benefit his production by inscribing it to a name which must long adorn the temple of science-so far I felicitate myself on this occa sion :

And am, Reverend Sir,

with the highest esteem and consideration,
your most obedient

and very humble servant,

SAMUEL WHELPLEY.