XXXV.

THE Hiftorian muft not indeed neglect chrono LECT. logical order, with a view to render his narration agreeable. He muft give a diftinct account of the dates and of the coincidence of facts. But he is not under the neceffity of breaking off always in the middle of transactions, in order to inform us of what was happening elsewhere at the fame time. He discovers no art, if he cannot form fome connection among the affairs which he relates, fo as to introduce them in a proper train. He will foon tire the reader, if he goes on re cording, in ftrict chronological order, a multitude of separate tranfactions, connected by nothing else, but their happening at the fame time.

THOUGH the history of Herodotus be of greater compass than that of Thucydides, and comprehend a much greater variety of diffimilar parts, he has been more fortunate in joining them together, and digesting them into order. Hence he is a more pleafing writer, and gives a stronger impreffion of his subject; though, in judgment and accuracy, much inferior to Thucydides. With digreffions and episodes he abounds; but when thefe have any connection with the main subject, and are inferted profeffedly as episodes, the unity of the whole is lefs violated by them, than by a broken and scattered narration of the principal ftory. Among the Moderns, the Prefident Thuanus has, by attempting to make the hiftory of his own times too comprehenfive, fallen into the fame error,

4

XXXV.

LECT. error, of loading the Reader with a great variety of unconnected facts, going on together in different parts of the world; an Hiftorian otherwife of great probity, candour, and excellent understanding; but through this want of unity, more tedious, and lefs interefting than he would other wife have been,

J

LECTURE XXXVI.

A

HISTORICAL WRITING.

XXXVI.

FTER making fome obfervations on the con- LECT. troverfy which has been often carried on concerning the comparative merit of the Antients and the Moderns, I entered, in the laft Lecture, on the confideration of Hiftorical Writing. The general idea of Hiftory is, a record of truth for the inftruction of mankind. Hence arife the primary qualities required in a good Hiftorian, impartiality, fidelity, gravity, and dignity. What I principally confidered, was the unity which belongs to this fort of Compofition; the nature of which I have endeavoured to explain.

I PROCEED next to obferve, that in order to fulfil the end of Hiftory, the Author must study to trace to their fprings the actions and events which he records. Two things are especially neceffary for his doing this fuccefsfully; a thorough acquaintance with human nature, and political knowledge, or acquaintance with government.

The

LECT. The former is neceffary to account for the conduct XXXVI. of individuals, and to give juft views of their character; the latter to account for the revolutions of government, and the operation of political causes. on public affairs. Both must concur, in order to form a completely inftructive Hiftorian.

WITH regard to the latter article, Political Knowledge, the antient Writers wanted fome advantages which the Moderns enjoy; from whom, upon that account, we have a title to expect more accurate and precife information. The world, as I formerly hinted, was more fhut up in antient times, than it is now; there was then lefs com、 munication among neighbouring ftates; and by confequence lefs knowledge of one another's affairs; no intercourfe by eftablished pofts, or by Ambaffadors refident at diftant courts. The knowledge, and materials of the antient Hiftorians, were thereby more limited and circumfcribed; and it is to be observed too, that they wrote for their own countrymen only; they had no idea of writing for the inftruction of foreigners, whom they despised, or of the world in general; and hence they are lefs attentive to convey all that knowledge with regard to domeftic policy, which we, in diftant times, would defire to have learned from them. Perhaps alfo, though in antient ages men were abundantly animated with the love of liberty, yet the full extent of the influence of government, and of political caufes, was not then

LECT.

then fo thoroughly fcrutinized, as it has been in modern times; when a long experience of all XXXVI. the different modes of government has rendered men more enlightened and intelligent, with respect to public affairs.

To these reasons it is owing, that though the antient Historians fet before us the particular facts which they relate, in a very distinct and beautiful manner, yet fometimes they do not give us a clear view of all the political causes, which affected the fituation of affairs of which they treat. From the Greek Hiftorians, we are able to form but an im perfect notion of the ftrength, the wealth, and the revenues of the different Grecian ftates; of the causes of feveral of those revolutions that happened in their government; or of their feparate connections and interfering interefts. In writ ing the History of the Romans, Livy had surely the most ample field for displaying political knowledge, concerning the rife of their greatnefs, and the advantanges or defects of their government. Yet the inftruction in thefe important articles, which he affords, is not confiderable. An elegant Writer he is, and a beautiful relater of facts, if ever there was one; but by no means distinguished for profoundness or penetration. Salluft, when writing the history of a confpiracy against the government, which ought to have been altogether a Political History, has evidently attended more to the elegance of narration, and the painting of characters,