I know of no other term in Homer that will give rise to any mineralogical inquiry. Those that have been considered are,

AAs, Sea salt. HaexTgov, Amber, Copal? fetov, Sulphur.

T. C.

ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY.—FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

THE following paper, although rather longer than we could have wished, and bearing evident marks of haste in its composition, we, notwithstanding, most cheerfully insert. It exhibits a plain and judicious analytical view of a new American work, to which we are anxious thus early to invite the public attention, in as much as, from the recommendations which accompany, and the sentiments we have heard expressed in relation to it, we can neither doubt of its general usefulness, nor of its fitness to fill up a serious chasm which, in this country at least, has heretofore existed in the course of the scholastic studies of youth.-EDITOR.

THE public have been lately served with a new work, entitled, "A View of Ancient Geography, and Ancient History, sacred and profane; accompanied with an atlas of ten select maps, chiefly from the Atlas Classica of Wilkinson; and a chart of Universal History and Biography, coloured: calculated for the use of seminaries, &c. By Robert Mayo, M. D.”

It may not be uninteresting to the public to be presented with a plain and candid analysis of this work, that they may have a succinct view of the ground upon which it lays claim to their notice; as it evidently does, from the conspicuous standing of the literary characters whose recommendations accompany it. Among others, the following extract from the letter of the Reverend Dr. Wheelock, president of Dartmouth college, to the author, is remarkable. This high official character says: "I have read, with satisfaction, the pages of your volume. It promises much benefit to the student; being calculated to fill an important chasm in its department, which has been too long neglected. The materials are judiciously selected; they are arranged with consistency; and they are expressed with perspicuity and conciseness," &c.

Before entering on the analysis, I will endeavour to remove an objection which some may entertain against attending me through it, on account of what they may suppose-the inutility of ancient geography and history. In combatting this ill-grounded opinion, -I will not claim any other importance for ancient geography than what is due to it, as affording the clearest light that can ever be shed on the details of ancient history: nor shall I dwell much on this part of the question. I shall only adduce what the author of the work under discussion tells us in his circular, viz:—that “History, read without a previous attention to geography, only amuses the mind with images but little less fleeting than the hobgoblins of a romance; and that geography is the fundamental principle which fixes the historical epoch to the very spot where it transpired; affording an associative clue with physical nature, for reclaiming evanescent impressions, by a single glance at the site of the story." This speaks home at once, to common sense; and here I will rest the question, as it regards the utility of ancient geography; not doubting but I shall be allowed all the importance I would attach to it, as being an indispensable auxiliary to the clear comprehension of ancient history, whether sacred or profane.

But this is gaining only a small point in the argument, the whole of which immediately falls to the ground, unless the other point be also established, viz.-the importance of history. To some it will seem quite superfluous to make this a question; while, to others, the matter will seem to require proof. To the latter, a cursory notice

of the uses of history will be a novelty, and will scarcely fail to effect a considerable change in their sentiments.

The uses of history may be regarded in three leading points of view-moral, political, and religious.

1st. In a moral point of view, history is useful to mankind at large, as a guide for their social conduct. The faculties of the mind, and the affections of the heart, are improved by exercise; and nothing is more appropriate to quicken, to enlarge, and refine them, than a general and particular survey of human transactions. History supplies us with a detail of facts, and submits them to our examination before we are called into active life. Thus, by observation and reflection upon the actions of others, we commence an early acquaintance with human nature; we are enabled to extend our views of the moral world; and at an early period we attain such a ripeness of judgment on the duties of social life, as others, deficient in history, obtain only by a tedious, expensive, and frequently ruinous personal experience. We are thus, by anticipation, conversant with the busy scenes of the world: by revolving the lives of sages and of heroes, we exercise our virtues in a review, and prepare them for approaching action. We learn the motives, the opinions, and the passions of those who have lived before us; and the fruit of that study is a more perfect knowledge of ourselves, and a correction of our defects, by the most impressive examples. We learn to what perfection, in wisdom and virtue, men like ourselves have actually risen, in defiance of the infirmities, temptations, and various other evils of life; and are inspired with a noble zeal to approach, to equal, or to surpass them in their glorious elevation. History sets before us the entire characters of persons who have rendered themselves conspicuous either for virtue or vice; and shows how they were first induced to take a right or a wrong turn; what prospects first invited them to aspire to higher degrees of glory, or what delusions misled them into irretrievable infamy. Our own experience is imperfect; but the examples of ancient times are complete. Actual observation gives only a partial knowledge of mankind; great events and important transactions open but slowly upon us, and the shortness of human life enables us to be eye witnesses of nothing more than detached parts of them; nor are we placed at a sufficient distance from them, to judge

correctly of their real nature and magnitude. Heated by our passions, hurried on by a want of reflection, and misled by interest and prejudice, we for the most part view the affairs of the present times through an obscure and partial medium, and consequently form very erroneous conceptions in relation to them. On the contrary, the examples of history are distinct and clear; they are presented to us at full length, and we can contemplate them in their origin, progress, and termination. We consider them at our leisure, decide upon them with a cool and dispassionate judgment, and deduce from them those general principles of conduct, which must necessarily be true and commendable, because they are founded on the immutable decrees of sound reason, and are sanctioned by the uniform authority and practice of the wise and virtuous of all ages.

2d. In a political point of view, history is beneficial to mankind; as it suggests useful expedients to those who exercise the public functions of the state, whether they be ministers, legislators, or magistrates. It also enables their constituents to form a just estimate of their merits, by a comparison with those who have gone before them. It is, indeed, the only proper school for politicians. From its pages alone can they derive the true principles of government. From it there need be no appeal for instruction to the Republic of Plato, the Utopia of Moore, or the Oceana of Harrington. In their deliberations upon state affairs, public functionaries can form no safer plans for the guidance of their conduct than what naturally results from the contemplation of facts. In the records of various states, they may observe by what means national happiness has been successfully pursued, and public liberty firmly established: in what manner laws have answered the ends of their institution, in the reformation of manners, and the promotion of the general good; and thence they may draw such conclusions as may be most advantageous in the regulation of the affairs of their own country.

In the historic page we see also the most deceitful and crafty characters stripped of the disguise of artifice and dissimulation, their designs developed, and their stratagems exposed. By making ourselves familiar with the fall of the great and powerful into a state of disgrace and indigence, as well as with the revolutions of

empires, we are not so liable to be astonished at the events which pass before our eyes. The reverses of fortune, so frequently recorded in the pages of former times, convince us of the mutability of worldly affairs, and the precariousness of human grandeur.

Need I add, that the portraits, busts, and statues of the hero, the legislator, the patriot, and the philosopher, furnish the most powerful incentives to the love of country. The Roman youth, accustomed to view the images of their illustrious ancestors, decorated with the emblems of the highest offices of state, and crowned with wreaths of victory, were fired with a high and laudable ambition to equal, or surpass their exploits.

3d. When I say that history is important in a religious point of view, it is not because I suppose the fact to be even problematical in the opinion of the most ignorant and unthinking: I cannot for a moment question even the firm conviction of the truth of such a proposition, with every grade as well as every sect. No; I disavow any other motive for advancing such a position, than that it forms an essential division of the general advantages of history; and it is only introduced as such, to render the mechanism of the subject complete. It would be doing violence to common sense, as well as common sanctity, to enter on a serious discussion of it; in as much as the books of the Old and New Testament are themselves historical, and we have every reason to believe that the ages of mystery and prophecy are past, and that the Almighty, having once revealed his divine commands, will leave it to our option to cherish their future remembrance, by imperishable records, or to forego the inestimable blessings of revealed religion, by a gradual and criminal submission to historical oblivion.

But exclusively of its general uses, there is a particular application of which history is susceptible, to the improvement of the vocation of every individual in society. It is the universal record on which we may ever draw for the experience of past ages, in arranging our plans as to our future life. There, the divine, the soldier, the statesman, the philosopher, the merchant, the artist, and the mechanic, are sure to find lessons suitable to their particular conditions; and while each is instructed, all will be equally entertained, and their feelings harmonised to social good.