ANCIENT HISTORY.

BY GILES F. YATES.

"Not to know what has been transacted in former times, is alway to remain a child."-CICERO.

Advantages to be derived from researches into antiquity, and the study of history-The province of the antiquary and historian-Ancient history of America-Defects of published works on this subject-Incentives to study it.

Of what use, asks the utilitarian, are your legends, traditions and chronicles of olden time; the discovery of minerals, fossils, and antique relics, the fruits of your geological and antiquarian researches? What advantage can be derived from the collection, examination and study of these, except to gratify the whims of the antiquary? And why need we trouble ourselves about the ancients? Have they not had their day? And how can what they were, or did, be of any consequence to us? Superficial, indeed, must be the observations of that mind which, in sober seriousness, can ask such questions. The discoveries of the antiquary, to all appearance, often coarse and homely, are so only because of the dross in which they are incrusted. To remove this, the skill of an ordinary chemist is adequate. The honest inquirer after truth will cull from stores the most rude, lessons the most useful; and, even if the matter at hand be so uncouth as to excite a smile, such smile will be aimed at vice or folly. Again, like a tree whose beautiful foliage so arrests our attention as to tempt us to taste its fruit, his researches will sometimes be so attractive that we will not rest satisfied till we taste their fruit-which is moral instruction. Antiquarian researches, then, have a higher, a nobler aim than simply to gratify the lover of antiquity.

The antiquary-a being wrapt in busy dreams of what has been, and seemingly regardless of present utility-what care men, in general, for his researches? Naught save the present occupies their thoughts and attention; in this is centred all their love and ambition. The past, as well as the future, they delight not to dwell upon. The animal pleasures of the passing hour constitute their life, their happiness. If not altogether strangers to the pleasures of the mind, and the love of virtue, they seek those joys only which are yielded by the cultivation of subjects and devotion to pursuits regarding the present moment-the passing hour: all else to them is dead and dreary, and affords no charm to rouse and animate their sentiments. "The urn of the past they can believe to contain only cold ashes, misjudging nor aware" that although

Cold and dark its ashes are,

Their pristine fires still slumber there.

The three great faculties of the mind are-memory, reason and imagination. These are constantly employed in arranging and retaining, comparing and distinguishing, combining and diversifying the ideas we receive through our senses, or acquire by reflection. From this it results that the main branches of human learning are, history, science, and art. History, whether ancient or modern, secures to him who studies it, the most important advantages, and tends to promote his improvement in the practical departments of life. If he pays heed to the lessons it teaches, he will become not only a wiser and better member of the private circle, but also a more useful and intelligent citizen.

It will not be giving too much latitude to the definition of ancient history, to call it a science which embraces all the objects of past external experience; that is, all the phenomena which have occurred in space and time. An account of facts of which we have or can have no personal cognizance in consequence of the remote period in which they occurred, constitutes ancient history. These facts are essential to man, whatever his station in society may be, while at the same time they will serve to awaken his affections, and amuse his imagination. It is a maxim no less true than trite, that history is philosophy teaching by examples. From these examples we become acquainted with the experience of nations, as well as individuals, under every variety of circumstance. Hence we derive from history that most capital knowledge, the science of politics, which is of use not only to the professed politician and statesman, but to every member of society. We read in the book of history, the causes of the rise and progress, elevation or depression, and fall of empires. We are led to compare the effects of human wisdom and Divine revelation, of true and false religions, upon the civil institutions and character of a people; the influence of their morals upon their government, and of their government on their morals. We become inspired with a taste for true national glory and greatness-with gratitude to the Ruler of nations, for the ameliorating influences of civilization and Christianity, which we enjoy, and are incited to redouble our exertions to preserve them.

By studying history we acquire an insight into human affairs, and that most useful of all knowledge, the knowledge of human nature. Our judgment in whatever relates to our fellow men, becomes more strong and penetrating. In a word, in the study or discussion of what subject is history not available? Out of the facts which it furnishes, the orator derives his most persuasive arguments, or forges his thunderbolts which bear down all opposi tion. From these facts the painter selects his sublimest subjects, and causes them to live and move upon his canvass-from these the poet weaves his "thoughts that breathe and words that burn.” If tales of fiction serve to affect the imagination and interest the

Sir William Jones.

† Encyclopedia Americana.

passions, and "truth is more strange than fiction," how much greater the aptitude and power of true history to produce the like results. To a correct taste, the discovery of truths before unknown affords a greater charm than the choicest romance. Fictitious relations serve only to amuse, while histories of real life serve not only to amuse, but also to advance public and private virtue. What argument more powerful than this can be required in favor of historical studies.

It is the legitimate and humble, though highly responsible province of the antiquary, to collect and preserve materials developing events, and the physical, intellectual, moral and social character of men in times bygone. It is the province of the historian to subject these materials to the ordeal of the strictest examination, with the utmost candor and impartiality, and not garble them by exaggeration or suppression, on the Procrustean bed of a preconceived theory. He will carefully separate fictions from truths, and ascertain the credibility of the latter. To the philosopher, the materials thus furnished are a source of ingenious speculation. No historiographer can be deemed accomplished, who does not superadd to the character of a genuine historian, the truthful qualities of a philosopher.

The historian, with his series of facts before him, however numerous, genuine and complete, however well sifted and arranged, is barely prepared to commence his work. These constitute but a mass of dry bones-a body soulless and inert. Outlines most correctly delineated on the canvass of the painter, will not be comprehended by any, except the learned connoisseur or accomplished artist himself, until they receive the finishing touches of his pencil. By these, the most common design is transformed into a picture. the most fascinating. But although there is a charm, a virtue if we may so speak, in the proper collation and disposition of words and sentences, a sort of magic in the rhetorical skill of a writer of history, it is not to this that we principally allude. Truth, like beauty, needs not the factitious aid of ornament; but is often "when unadorned, adorned the most." He should be careful not to give us effects without their causes. He should not deal altogether in generalities, but should descend into details, when these are calculated to illustrate his narrative. Some objects, like figures on the canvass, should appear prominent and in bold relief, while others should be seen faintly and in the distance. With the events in the order in which they occurred, he should interweave an account of the arts and sciences, so far as they obtained, with the people of whom he treats; of their manners and customs, of their language, and also their laws, which may elucidate their genius and character; and he should not forget their natural history and the geology of their country. We cannot properly understand the history of any country, or its study will be of small advantage, unless in prosecuting it we pursue a system similar to that which has been adverted to.

These remarks, although applicable to modern as well as ancient history, are especially true of the latter, to which they were intended to have primary reference. They have been elicited by studying the materials for the ancient history of our own country. This history, we are well aware, presents very little of attractiveness or utility to the generality of Americans. As to its attractiveness, we know, much depends upon the sensitiveness of the investigator to the pleasures of virtue, and its usefulness on the practical application he makes of his researches.

Although many books have been written on the early history of the different sections of North America, a history complete in all its parts has never yet appeared. This is in a great measure at tributable to the fact that the labors of the antiquary have, for a variety of causes beyond his control, never comprised that amplitude and truthfulness in their details, so essential to a perfect history. In some cases the imagination of the historian has been drawn upon to supply the links of a dissevered chain of events; plausible conjectures have been substituted for well ascertained truths; facts applicable to one section of the country and to one portion of its aboriginal inhabitants, have been adapted to other and diverse sections and portions. We refer here in an especial manner to that part of our history which commences at that "dim point where records fail," or are imperfect. The researches of the antiquary have been quite limited-much has been done, however, during the last quarter century; yet a good deal still remains to be done, while the means of doing it become every day more and more limited and difficult. Those who followed Columbus, the great pioneer of the new world, from the land of civilization and refinement, to this then termed barbarous but much coveted land of ours, employed their time in destroying and mutilating, instead of observing and preserving the monuments of antiquity. "Carnage, spoil and ruin were their gain ;" and many of those not engaged in this Vandalic drama, were soulless men, like many of the present day, who do not conceive it possible to engage in any undertaking or perform any act of which money-getting is not the basis or motive. How needful then to awaken inquiry and to elicit investigation. Surely whatever relates to the early history of this state and country cannot be devoid of interest to us who possess it. While engaged in studying it, unreasonable prejudices in our own favor and against its original occupants, will be removed, and the fire of true patriotism will glow in our bosoms with a purer, brighter flame.

"Oh! 'tis a noble heritage-this goodly land of ours

It boasts indeed nor Gothic fame nor ivy-mantled towers,
But far into the closing clouds its purple mountains climb-
The sculpture of omnipotence-the rugged twins of time,
And then its interlinking lakes, its forests wild and wide,

And streams, the sinews of its strength, that feed it as they glide ;
Its rich, primeval pasture grounds, fenc'd by the stooping sky,
And mines of treasure yet undelved that 'neath its surface lie."

GRANDMOTHER'S BOX.

Resplendent as a summer's sky,
When day-light lingers in the west,
To retrospection's loving eye,

The blooming fields of childhood lie,
By fancy's finger drest—"

"And memories strange of other days,
Would break upon my mind,
The linkings that the present give,
With what is left behind."

"I remember, I remember,
The fir trees dark and high,
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky.
It was a childish ignorance,

But now 'tis little joy

To know I'm farther off from Heaven
Than when I was a boy."

These and a thousand other snatches of poems and old songs, many of them much more facetious in their nature, have this morning been ushered by the ghosts of bygone days into the audience-chamber of my soul.

Hours have passed; the dial has long since crossed the meridian and still these shadows come trooping on, gliding upon each other's footsteps, each telling a rare and often a forgotten tale of those early days when we look upon life through a prism, coloring all things with the gorgeous hues of our own hope and fancy.

And what power has loosed the bars of oblivion and called into my presence these pilgrims of the past? It was a simple cause, and apparently a homely one. An old box, upon which were painted wise-looking mandarins with most expressive countenances and long queues, toppling ladies with diagonal eye-brows, and little Chinamen each with a shaven brow and a tea-plant in his hand, ranged in regular file like the farmer boys at a country training. I used to gaze upon it for hours, and think it a perfect chef-d'œuvre of art. It had once contained a white embroidered Canton crape dress, which was brought in it from China for my grandmother long years ago, about the time of the Revolution, when she was a belle. Once when dressed in it at a ball, she captivated a British officer, who it is said shot himself in despair, because the fair rebel was too patriotic to smile upon him. Certain it is, that the last time he was ever seen, was when stepping into his boat, which was moored in a little cove which made up into her father's gar