Lives of Eminent Zoologists, from Aristotle to Linnaeus Part 26

The primary object of this undertaking was to construct, from the varied and costly materials that have been acc.u.mulating for ages, a popular Work, appearing in successive volumes, and comprising all that is really valuable in those branches of knowledge which most happily combine amus.e.m.e.nt with instruction. A scheme so comprehensive necessarily embraced a wide range of subjects; all of which, however, though treated by separate writers, were designed to form component parts of one uniform system. To record the prominent changes and revolutions in the history of nations;--to follow the progress of inland and maritime discovery, embodying the researches of those fearless adventurers who have traversed stormy oceans, or penetrated into the interior of barbarous kingdoms;--to mark the steps by which the sciences and arts that refine and improve human nature have arrived at their present stage of advancement;--in short, to exhibit, under all their variety of circ.u.mstances and forms, Man and the objects by which he is surrounded,--are among the leading features in the design of the CABINET LIBRARY.

Its reception hitherto has exceeded the most sanguine antic.i.p.ations of the Proprietors; and they need only refer to the favourable notices in almost every journal in the British empire, for evidence that it is now established in the estimation of the public as a Work of acknowledged merit. It has also been reviewed with much commendation in numerous foreign periodicals; on the Continent, translations of it continue to be executed from time to time; and in America, the volumes, as they appear, are regularly stereotyped. The method adopted from the beginning, of not restricting the publication to monthly issues, has proved of material advantage,--by allowing the different authors ample time to finish their respective contributions in the most satisfactory manner; while, by employing on the more important subjects a combination of talent, and sometimes devoting to them two or three volumes, means are secured for rendering each work as perfect as possible. It needs but a cursory glance at what is already done to be convinced, that although the field of enterprise is wide and diversified, the various subjects are so methodically treated, and so closely allied in their nature, as to amalgamate into one regular and connected whole, which, when completed, will form a full and comprehensive Cabinet of truly valuable information for all cla.s.ses of the community. The entire plan may be briefly detailed under four subdivisions:--

I.--HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, AND STATISTICS.

These form properly the basis of the system; for surely no study can be more interesting, or more instructive, than that which makes us acquainted with the political inst.i.tutions and domestic habits of foreign nations; with their productions and resources, their literature, antiquities, and physical appearance; the princ.i.p.al events of which they have been the theatre; and with the condition of their present inhabitants. The Proprietors conceive that the manner in which these branches of knowledge are combined in the CABINET LIBRARY, is an advantage which distinguishes its design; as by this means the reader is put in possession of the history, the geography, and the statistics of every particular country in one work, instead of having to search for them in many volumes, and these frequently so expensive as to be beyond the reach of ordinary readers. This department, in so far as it has yet advanced, may serve to ill.u.s.trate the general plan.

The AFRICAN division of the globe has been nearly completed, three volumes on the subject,--the second, third, and twelfth of the series,--having already appeared. The first of these, ent.i.tled NARRATIVE OF DISCOVERY AND ADVENTURE IN AFRICA, not only describes the natural features of that continent, and the social condition of its people, but also exhibits a view of whatever is most interesting in the researches and observations of those travellers who have sought to explore its interior, from the times of the Greeks and Romans down to the recent expeditions of Park, Clapperton, and Lander; thus presenting within a narrow compa.s.s all that is known of those immense deserts which have hitherto been a blank in the geography of the world. A VIEW OF ANCIENT AND MODERN EGYPT, and an Account of NUBIA AND ABYSSINIA, the _Ethiopia_ of the ancients, are comprised in the third and twelfth volumes. These countries, alike interesting to the antiquary and the scholar as the cradle of the arts, have been carefully ill.u.s.trated from the descriptions of the cla.s.sic writers, as well as from the labours of scientific travellers, who, in recent times, have contributed by their discoveries to disperse the clouds that so long enveloped the splendid monuments of the Pharaohs, and obscured our geographical and historical knowledge of that portion of the globe. The greater part of the northern coast of the African continent still remains to be described; but when this want is supplied, by an Account of the BARBARY STATES, which is now in progress, the public will be in possession of a concise survey of the History, Geography, and Statistics of one grand division of the earth.

To ASIA several works have already been devoted, and others are in a forward state of preparation. The fourth volume of the LIBRARY, which treats of PALESTINE, OR THE HOLY LAND, gives a succinct abridgment of its annals, with an account of the antiquities, const.i.tution, religion, literature, and present condition of the singular people by whom it was inhabited;--embracing a topographical delineation of the cities, towns, and more remarkable scenes, chiefly drawn from the works of travellers and pilgrims who have successively visited the country.

The importance of BRITISH INDIA, both in a political and a commercial point of view, made it necessary to give a minute and comprehensive account of that portion of Asia; and, accordingly, three volumes,--the sixth, seventh, and eighth,--have been appropriated to that interesting subject. In these will be found a luminous view of the civil history of Hindostan; exhibiting, in succession, those splendid achievements, both by sea and land, which signalized the early voyages and settlements of the English and Portuguese;--the revolutions effected by the Mohammedan invaders, and the various dynasties established there by that devastating power, the career of which is diversified by such striking vicissitudes of grandeur and humiliation;--and, finally, those still more brilliant events, so glorious to our countrymen, who with a handful of troops subverted all the states which had sprung from the ruins of the Mgul empire, and made themselves masters of a wealthy and fertile territory, containing a population of more than one hundred millions, that still remain in subjection to a government seated at the opposite extremity of the globe. In addition to these historical details, a concise account is given of the present state of British India;--the arts, learning, mythology, domestic habits, and social inst.i.tutions of the Hindoos;--the labours and present condition of the Missionaries;--the affairs and arrangements of the Company,--including an explanation of the mode and terms on which young men going out to India obtain their appointments;--and a summary of the valuable information recently collected by Parliament respecting the commerce of the country. On the subject of the projected steam-communication with India by way of the Red Sea, which now engages so much of the public attention, some interesting remarks were supplied by the late distinguished officer and historian, Sir John Malcolm, who was surpa.s.sed by none in the knowledge of all that relates to the management and resources of our Oriental possessions. To render the information concerning these extensive regions as complete as possible, the Natural History has been fully and methodically treated,--the separate articles being contributed by writers of acknowledged scientific acquirements; so that, by thus directing to one object the talents and learning of many, a more perfect work on British India has been produced, than if the undivided task had been a.s.signed to any one individual.

Next in importance and equal in interest to Hindostan is ARABIA, the history of which, ANCIENT AND MODERN, forms the thirteenth and fourteenth volumes of the CABINET LIBRARY. The physical aspect and geographical limits of that celebrated peninsula, hitherto so little known;--the peculiar character, customs, and political condition of the primitive race by which it is inhabited;--the life and religion of the false prophet, Mohammed, under whom was achieved one of the most wonderful revolutions that the world has ever beheld;--the rapid and extensive conquests of the Saracens, who, in a few years, spread their dominion, and diffused a taste for arts and learning, from the sh.o.r.es of the Atlantic to the frontiers of China;--the reigns and dynasties of the Caliphs;--the civil government, religious ceremonies, and social inst.i.tutions of the modern Arabs;--these are the prominent topics ill.u.s.trated in this work.

PERSIA is connected, both locally and historically, with the preceding countries; and, in the fifteenth volume of the series, a descriptive account is given of its antiquities, government, resources, productions, and inhabitants. Its ancient and modern history is critically detailed; and a lucid sketch is given of the religion and philosophy of Zoroaster.

As this work is the production of a writer who has travelled in that kingdom, the view which is given of its modern state has a truth and freshness which could only be derived from a personal acquaintance with the country. This volume comprises also a description of AFGHANISTAN AND BELOOCHISTAN. At no very distant interval works will appear, on CHINA, including j.a.pAN AND COREA, and on a.s.sYRIA, with the interesting region between the Tigris and the Euphrates; and when to these are added some other sections of the great Eastern Continent, the Asiatic department of the LIBRARY, like the African, will be perfect in itself,--forming a complete epitome of the social and religious, as well as of the political and commercial state of those vast and important nations, so many of which are now closely connected by ties of reciprocal intercourse with the British Empire.

AMERICA has as yet occupied comparatively less s.p.a.ce than the two preceding divisions of the globe; but a survey of its several states, as well as those of EUROPE, forms part of the plan upon which the CABINET LIBRARY has been constructed. A History of the Scandinavian kingdoms, DENMARK, SWEDEN, AND NORWAY, and of the adjacent Islands and Dependencies in the Northern Seas, is in course of preparation; and among the contributors to this work the Proprietors may mention HENRY WHEATON, Honorary Member of the Scandinavian and Icelandic Literary Societies, who, from his long residence at Copenhagen, in his official capacity of Charge d'Affaires from the United States, has had access to the best sources of information. GREECE and ITALY, both ANCIENT AND MODERN, are now in a state of considerable progress; and from what has already been accomplished, some idea may be formed by the reader as to the nature and contents of this department of the LIBRARY.

II--MARITIME DISCOVERY.

This subdivision of the plan is intimately and essentially connected with the preceding. The Adventures and Discoveries of Navigators are not only highly entertaining in themselves, as they abound in perils and disasters, and give rise to extraordinary displays of heroism and intrepidity; but they serve to correct and enlarge our knowledge of history, by throwing new lights on the realities of nature and of human life. To this very interesting and important subject two volumes of the CABINET LIBRARY have already been a.s.signed. The Series opened with a description of the POLAR SEAS AND REGIONS,--giving a connected narrative of the successive voyages to those remote parts for the purposes of colonization or discovery; a view of the climate and its phenomena; the geological structure and other remarkable features peculiar to the sublime scenery of the Polar lat.i.tudes; with a copious account of the whale-fishery. To complete the history of Arctic adventure, the subject was resumed in the ninth volume, which delineates, in the same condensed manner, the PROGRESS OF DISCOVERY ON THE MORE NORTHERN COASTS OF AMERICA, including a detail of the numerous expeditions undertaken by the nations of Europe, and particularly by Britain, to trace the extreme limits of that vast continent, partly by land, and partly by coast and river navigation. In these two volumes are contained a full and consecutive view of the various efforts that have been made to explore the Arctic Regions, from the times of Cabot and Cortereal to those of Parry, Franklin, and Beechey.

There is now also in preparation a minute narrative of The CIRc.u.mNAVIGATION OF THE GLOBE, FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME. This work has a twofold object;--first, to present to the reader an accurate account of the various commanders who have sailed round the world, their achievements and adventures; and, secondly, to describe the progress of discovery in the South Sea, as well as to give a concise view of the actual condition of the interesting communities of Polynesia. This, combined with the LIVES OF DRAKE, CAVENDISH, AND DAMPIER, already published, and with a work on AUSTRALASIA, now preparing, will complete the account of OCEANICA, which modern cosmographers have recognised as a fifth geographical division of the globe. In this department will be exhibited, in a popular and authentic shape, a general survey of all that is most curious or valuable in the annals of naval enterprise.

III.--NATURAL SCIENCE.

To render the plan of the CABINET LIBRARY as perfect and comprehensive as possible, the design embraces useful and instructive compends of Natural Science, more especially in those branches of it which serve to ill.u.s.trate the progress of general knowledge. With this intention the Proprietors have introduced into their Work what may be termed a new and important feature, by annexing to the description of each country a popular survey of its Natural History. This department has been uniformly intrusted to authors of undisputed professional attainments, amongst whom are numbered some of the most distinguished men of science in the present day. Instead of discussing the subject in a merely technical style, they have given to it a form which renders it at once intelligible and attractive to the general reader. By this means a novel interest and a more inviting aspect have been given to an important branch of knowledge, which has not hitherto been treated in combination with Civil History. In thus endeavouring to render Natural History not merely descriptive of the geological structure or the animal and vegetable productions of a country, but also ill.u.s.trative of the character, habits, and resources of its inhabitants, the CABINET LIBRARY has done what no similar publication has. .h.i.therto attempted.

IV.--BIOGRAPHY.

The lives of distinguished men are often intimately a.s.sociated with the political events, as well as the scientific discoveries, of their times.

National history draws its princ.i.p.al materials, and frequently borrows the only elucidation of its most important incidents, from the memoirs of individuals. Of the pleasure and advantage to be derived from the relation of travels, voyages, and adventures, or of the aid which these afford in the study of maritime discovery, it is unnecessary here to speak. There is scarcely a region of the globe, or a page in history or geography, to which these sources of intelligence have not added valuable contributions.

In the department of Biography several specimens have already been given, and others are in preparation. The LIVES AND DISCOVERIES of the three celebrated English Navigators, DRAKE, CAVENDISH, AND DAMPIER, are, as already mentioned, comprised in the fifth volume; in which is embodied much curious information relative to the romantic spirit of maritime enterprise by which their times were distinguished, and a picturesque Narrative is given of the daring adventures of the BUCCANEERS. The LIFE OF SIR WALTER RALEIGH, in the eleventh volume, belongs to the same cla.s.s with the preceding; for, while it includes a view of the most important transactions in the reigns of Elizabeth and James I., interspersed with Sketches of contemporary public characters, it also details his nautical achievements, and unravels certain obscurities in his history, both as a statesman and a navigator, that have not hitherto been explained or understood. The TRAVELS AND RESEARCHES OF BARON HUMBOLDT, one of the most eminent naturalists of the present day, fall likewise under this head; and, accordingly, the tenth volume has been devoted to an a.n.a.lysis of the journeys and scientific labours of that ill.u.s.trious philosopher, who has perhaps done more than any living author to extend the boundaries of physical knowledge. In preparing this work, application was made to M. de Humboldt himself, who kindly pointed out sources of information to the Editor. In addition to these works will follow a Series of "LIVES OF CELEBRATED NATURALISTS" in all the different branches of the science. The first volume of the LIVES OF EMINENT ZOOLOGISTS, being the sixteenth of the LIBRARY, is now published, extending from the times of ARISTOTLE to those of LINNaeUS inclusive, and containing Introductory Remarks on the study of Natural History and the progress of Zoology. The second volume, already in preparation, will be devoted to the most distinguished writers in the same department, from PALLAS, BRISSON, and BUFFON, down to CUVIER,--and will conclude with General Reflections on the present state of the science. It is intended to offer to the public similar Memoirs of the princ.i.p.al Cultivators of BOTANY, MINERALOGY, and GEOLOGY; so that the Series, while forming a useful introduction to the study of those branches of knowledge, will also present a succession of biographical narratives, which, independently of their scientific details, cannot fail to prove extremely interesting to all cla.s.ses of readers.

Such is a general outline of the plan on which the EDINBURGH CABINET LIBRARY will continue to be conducted. To point out its peculiar advantages, or to exhibit more at length the harmony and regularity of the scheme, and how the main subdivisions mutually coalesce with and ill.u.s.trate each other, would be superfluous. After the delineation of the several parts, just given, and the progress already made, no additional evidence can be requisite, to satisfy the public that the Work advances no claim for which it does not offer a sufficient guarantee, and that it is fitted to become, what it was originally designed to be, a complete and connected LIBRARY OF HISTORICAL, GEOGRAPHICAL, STATISTICAL, NATURAL, AND BIOGRAPHICAL KNOWLEDGE.

The typography of the EDINBURGH CABINET LIBRARY has been generally acknowledged to be equally correct and beautiful; and the binding is executed in a style which unites elegance with durability. Each volume is sold for five s.h.i.+llings; and although the quant.i.ty of letterpress has in every instance considerably exceeded the original calculation, the price has not on that account been in any degree increased. Maps, accurately constructed, are prefixed to the several works, not only ill.u.s.trative of the kingdom or region to which they refer, but from time to time carefully corrected, so as to include the latest discoveries.

Portraits and numerous other Engravings, executed by able artists, have been introduced, with the view of ill.u.s.trating the text and conveying characteristic ideas of the several countries, rather than of merely producing a picturesque effect.

Having said so much on the plan, it only remains to subjoin a list of the princ.i.p.al writers who have contributed the volumes already before the public; by which it will be seen that the Proprietors have redeemed their pledge given at the outset, that the Series should be the production of authors of eminence, who had acquired celebrity by former labours in their respective departments:--

THE LATE SIR JOHN LESLIE, Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh, and Corresponding Member of the Royal Inst.i.tute of France.

ROBERT JAMESON, F.R.S.E. & L., F.L.S., M.W.S., Regius Professor of Natural History, Lecturer on Mineralogy, &c.

in the University of Edinburgh.

WILLIAM WALLACE, A.M., F.R.S.E., Professor of Mathematics in the University of Edinburgh.

REV. MICHAEL RUSSELL, LL.D.

HUGH MURRAY, F.R.S.E.

P. F. TYTLER, F.R.S. & F.S.A.

JAMES BAILLIE FRASER.

ANDREW CRICHTON.

JAMES WILSON, F.R.S.E., &c.

R. K. GREVILLE, LL.D.

W. MACGILLIVRAY, F.R.S.E., &c.

W. AINSLIE, M.D., M.R.A.S.

CAPTAIN CLARENCE DALRYMPLE, Master Attendant at Madras.

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PART I.