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Excerpt from Manual of Classical Literature: From the German of J. J. Eschenburg, Professor in the Carolinum, at Brunswick It will be natural to ask, why this book is offered to the public, The translator knows not how to introduce the reasons, in a better way, than by first allowing the author himself to explain the design and character of the original work. For this purpose, the reader is requested to peruse the following extracts from the Prefaces of Eschenburg. From the Preface to the fifth Edition. - Twenty-seven years ago, I was induced to commence a revision and enlargement of that portion of Hederick's Introduction to the Historical Sciences, which treats of Classical Literature, Mythology and Roman Antiquities. In doing this I expected to aid an esteemed friend, who had been requested by the booksellers to prepare an improved edition of the whole work. But what determined me to the attempt was a conviction, that it was undertaking a work of very useful tendency, and a hope, that by it a want, long felt in elementary instruction, might be supplied. Other duties hindered the seasonable accomplishment of this purpose, and I was led to enlarge the original plan, so as to include the Grecian Antiquities, and what is embraced under the head of Archæology of Literature and Art. Thus it formed a complete Manual, furnishing the most essential aids in reading the classical authors, and with sufficient fulness for all elementary purposes. My work so designed has, therefore, now scarcely a trace in it of the treatise of Hederick. My aim, in this work, was to furnish both Learners and Teachers with a book, which might at the same time serve as a general introduction to the reading of classical authors, and likewise afford further and constant help in understanding and explaining them. It surely is unnecessary to prove, that a knowledge of Greek and Roman Mythology and Antiquities, and some acquaintance with the Archæology of Literature and Art, and