Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/22

 History of Armenia in three large quarto volumes, of about 1,000 pages each, compiled from the historical works of various authors who flourished in Armenia in various times, and wrote the accounts of their own days, of whom I shall give a detailed biographical account in its proper place. In the year 1811, Father Chamich published an abridgment of his own history, of which the present volume is a translation. ^ In this some re- ferences are made by the author to the enlarged history, for example, ''See Hist. B. I. c. 3.", which I have in- serted in the beginning of my translation, but I subse- quently thought proper to omit them. I would have made notes at the end of each of these references, had I not been convinced that they would have considerably increased the size of the work^ and obliged me to issue a third volume, while the support I have hitherto received is barely sufficient to defray the expenses incurred in printing the two.

III. — I am compelled by a love of truth, and not by a spirit of religious controversy, to speak briefly of the partiality of Father Michael Chamich in religious afiairs* Perhaps it would not be uninteresting to give a detailed explanation to the reader on this head, but considering the abridged form of the present volume, I deem it necessary to make my remarks in ^s few words as possible.

Father IMichael Chamich, though an Armenian by birth, was attached to the Romish Church, as I have stated above. In his preface to the enlarged History he pro- mises to write with impartiality, and to shew the truth in his writing, but alas! in the course of the ecclesiastical

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