Vlll PREFACE. 



In the earlier part of this labour, I have de- 

 rived much assistance from the valuable work of 

 Heeren, professor of history in the university of 

 Gottingen, on the commerce of the ancients. He 

 is not referred to in the body of the book, because, 

 though I found his work of great use in pointing 

 out some of the ancient authors to whom I had 

 recourse,! have not translated any whole passage j 

 but it would be ungrateful not to acknowledge 

 the obligation which I owe to his learning and 

 accuracy *. 



In the accounts of the application of gold and 

 silver to other purposes than coin, I have, at least, 

 used much diligence, and can lay claim to no 

 other praise. If in that or any other part of 

 this subject I have been led into errors, I shall 

 rejoice to have them detected and rectified, having 

 no object to seek, or to assist others in seeking for, 

 but the truth, on a subject of importance. If this 

 effort should induce others to investigate the 

 whole of the history of the precious metals, 

 or any one of the various branches of it, with 

 more learning, more assiduity, and more success, 



* The work is entitled (< Ideen ueber die Politik, den 

 Verkehr und den Handel der vornehmsten Volker dcr alten 

 Welt," being the vols. ten to fifteen of the " Historische 

 Werke." 4th edition, Gottingen, 1824. 



