PREFACE.

Regarding how these matters arose, this should not be passed over in silence. I read the Syriac book of Bar-Hebraeus immediately from the beginning (for so I had intended in my mind) without inspecting the translation by Bruns, and I could not have done otherwise, since the Syriac text from page 110 had already been printed in type before its interpretation could be sent to me. When I subsequently corrected the printed proofs of Bruns's interpretation, I saw that various places were understood by me differently than they had been translated by Bruns. I made notes, and thus those Notes came into existence, which at first I intended to suppress, lest anyone believe they were interspersed out of vanity. However, after I had discovered among them, upon re-examination, some that could bring light to obscure places, I did not hesitate to insert them.

Furthermore, I would seem a very ungrateful man to myself if I did not publicly state what kind of partner in labor I have experienced in this matter. Bruns, praised by illustrious men, does not need my praise; yet I cannot remain silent about his wondrous benevolence and his wondrous humanity toward me. Had it not been so great, I rightly doubt whether this Chronicle would have seen the light of day at this time. There were not a few obstacles that seemed to frustrate our hope, but he always conducted himself toward me in such a way that it was easily apparent he was not greedy for profit, but rather held a deep affection for letters. If there were many others like him, Oriental studies would be cared for in every way. For this reason, I now publicly offer him the thanks owed to him for this humanity and ingenuously profess that, even if I should never reap any fruits from this labor, I will accept this as profit, that I have worked together with such a man on letters for some time. Written at Hof in the Principality of Bayreuth, April 30, 1789.