ESSAY upon the PRINCIPLES, &c. 77 



THE hiftprian is in a fituation more trying, in certain re- 

 fpedls, than either the poet or the orator. He muft unite in- 

 duftry with genius, as by fevere labour alone, he has to learn 

 what his fubjeft is. He muft make the moft of a train of facts 

 too well eftablifhed to be altered, and the fources of his intel- 

 ligence are generally open to his readers. Having no prejudice 

 to combat, and no fide to fupport, he can hardly make the 

 weaknefs of his reader the tool of his addrefs. In the ftyle 

 of his narration, he muft exhibit a variety that will fuit the 

 meaneft, as well as the moft fplendid actions. Though he is 

 not allowed to fabricate, yet he is required to em'bellim. His 

 ornaments, by being the genuine, though the beft drefs of his 

 materials, muft fix the reader's attention, without mifleading 

 his judgment. 



FROM the perception of truth with which hiftorical narration 

 is accompanied, it is of all kinds of writing the moft inftruc- 

 tive. Men liften more ferioufly to what they believe, than to 

 the moft exquifite fable which fancy can devife. The tale 

 pleafes by a temporary conviction of its truth; but though the 

 moral drawn from it be juft, yet the impreflion left behind is 

 eafily effaced. 



HISTORY then is not only a nice, but a dignified fubject of 

 criticifm *. It prefents to the race which exi'fts, monuments of 

 the wifdom and the weaknefs of its forefathers. It demands no 

 reverence for its precepts, that is not founded upon a convic- 

 tion of their propriety. It imparts wifdom, without expofing 

 men to thofe evils which are its ordinary price ; and upon eve- 

 ry rock that proved fatal to early adventurers, it leaves a bea- 

 con for the fecurity of others. 



IN order to eftat>lim a canon for judging of the merit of 

 every hiftorical work, we mail try to delineate thofe qualities 

 which mould predominate in the hiftorian's character. Let us 



view 



* PULCHRDM imprimis videtur, non pati occidere quibus seterahas debeatur, aliorum- 

 que famam cum fua extendere. PLIN. lib. 5. efi/l. 8, 



