SS4; SCiENTinC NEIVS. 



New translation absurd fables and anile stories. But perhaps he might liare 

 tural History, "sed the language of Quintus Curtius, " Eqiddem plura 

 transcribo ^uam credo ;^^ and we know, that he occasion- 

 ally discovers a proper degree of scepticism ou various 

 points, which came under his review, and severely rebukes 

 the vanity and self confidence of the Greek authors, from 

 whom he derived his information. Yet, notwithstanding 

 all the censure to which he is obnoxious on the score of 

 credulity, his eloquent and instructive history will ever be 

 regarded as an imperishable monument of its author's inde- 

 fatigable industry and Roman spirit. Pliny's Natural His- 

 tory is indeed to be considered an invaluable treasure, more 

 especially on account of its containing an infinite number 

 of excerpts and observations illustrative of the various sub- 

 jects of which the author treats, extracted from the books 

 of many ancient writers, whose works have perished through 

 the injuries of time. It may therefore appear surprising, 

 that no English translation of tliis admirable performance 

 has been ottered to the public for more than two centuries. 

 It is the present translator's object to supply, to the best 

 of his abilities, this clesidcraiuin in English literature. 

 One great object, which the translator will keep in view in 

 his notes and illustrations, will be, to accommodate Pliny's 

 descriptions of animals, plants, and minerals to the no- 

 menclature of the Systema Natiirce Linnm. This, he is 

 abundantly aware, Avill prove by much the most difficult 

 part of his labours; and he despairs of executing it with 

 full satisfaction either to the public or to himself. But a« 

 in the present state of natural history a translation of 

 Pliny would not be well received without some account of 

 the synonyms^ he enters on the task in the hope of being 

 able to contribute in some measure toward its accomplish- 

 ment. The translation thus enlarged must extend to six or 

 seven volumes in octavo, and will be published either in se- 

 parate volumes successively, or when the whole shall have 

 been finished, as future circumstances may render it ad- 

 visable. 



