William Enfield (1741–1797)

...Enfield's judicious abridgment of Brucker's history of Philosophy, in which he has reduced 5. or 6. quarto vols of 1000. pages each of Latin closely printed, to two moderate 8º of English open type....
For a comparison of the Graecian philosophy with that of Jesus, materials might be largely drawn from the same source. Enfield gives a history, & detailed account of the opinions & principles of the different sects. These relate to
the gods, their natures, grades, places
and powers;
the demi-gods and daemons, and their
agency with man;
the Universe, it's structure, extent and
duration;
the origin of things from the elements
of fire, water, air and earth;
the human soul, it's essence and
derivation
the summum bonum, and finis bonurm; with a thousand idle dreams & fancies on these and other subjects the knoledge of which is withheld from man, leaving but a short chapter for his moral duties, and the principle section of that given to what he owes himself, to precepts for rendering him impassible, and unassailable by the evils of life, and for preserving his mind in a state of constant serenity...
--From a letter to John Adams, Oct. 12, 1813, from Monticello]

...Enfield has given us a more distinct accout of the antient philosophers; but the great work, of which Enfield's is an abridgment, Brucker's history of Philosophy, is the treasure which I would wish to possess, as a book of reference or of special research only, for who could read 6. vols 4º. of 1000 pages each, closely printed, of modern Latin?
--Letter to John Adams, Jan. 24, 1814.… (more)