An Universal History; from the Beginning of the World, to the Empire of Charlemagne

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1821 edition. Excerpt: ... A. c. date has very solid foundations. The hanishment of A. R. Themistocles is placed by Eusehius's chronicle, in the last year of the 76th Olympiad, which answers to the 280th of Rome. Other chronclogists bring it a little farther down; the difference is inconsiderable, and the circumstances of time confirm Eusehius's date. They are taken from Thucydides, a most accurate historian; uo-i. and this grave author, almost contemporary, as well as fellow.citizen, with Themistocles, makes him write his letter in the heginning of the reign of Artaxerxes. Cornelius Nepos, an ancient and judicious, as well as eorn. elegant author, admits no doubt of this date after the Th'n authority of Thucydides; an argument so much the '""' more solid, that another author, more ancient still than Tliucydides, entirely agrees with him. And that is nui. m Charon of Lampsachus, quoted fay Plutarch; and m' Plutarch himself adds, that the annals, meaning those of Persia, are conformable to these two authors. He does not, however, follow them, but gives us no reason for it; and the historians, who hegin the reign of Artaxerxes eight or nine years later, are neither of that time, nor of so grpat auihority. It appears therefore unquestionable, thaf its heginning is to he placed towards the end of the 7tith Olympiad, and near the 208th ypar of Rome, whereby the twentieth year of that prince must fall towards the end of the 81st Olympiad, and about Rome's JWOih year. In fine, those who cast the heginning of Anaxerxes' reign lower, to reconcile authors, are reduced to suppose, that his father had, at least, associated him in the kingdom, when Themistocles wrote his letter; and which way ever it is, our date is ascertained. This foundation heing laid, the rest of...