Essay Upon the Versification of Homer, and His Digamma

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. The rules of authorship, I am told, require, that in addition to the subject matter of every book, there shall also be given to the public a title page, an epistle dedicatory, and a preface. The first, as may be perceived, I have succeeded in obtaining; Mr. Smith's kindness has enabled me to supply the second; but for a preface I am sadly at a loss. To enlarge upon the advantages accruing from an attentive study of Grecian literature; to shew that all true and enlarged views of Greek must be based upon a knowledge of the Epic language, as developed in Homer; and to prove that, before we can examine Homer's language with any degree of critical certainty, we must be acquainted with the laws of his versification; would render my preface a treatise in itself, and this would be very far from pleasing the public.