The object of the Author in the following pages has been to collect out of the writings of the ancients every particular relating to the History of Egypt, before the conquest of that country by the Persians. The collection is no doubt far from complete, but probably contains all the most important passages now extant; and, however unsatisfactory these fragments may be thought, upon these, assisted by the remaining monuments of the country, the History of Egypt at that early period must rest.

The extracts from each historian are placed separately, so that, in the words of Herodotus quoted in the title page, " each person may use those which he thinks may be relied upon and the remarks which are added, with a view to explain the extracts, and to show how far the account of one historian is consistent with that of another, are also kept distinct, so that the value of the quotations may not be lessened by the errors of the criticisms.