S23 On tlie Moral Injluence of llkiory. 



ON TftE 



MORAL INFLUENCE 



OF 



HISTORY. 



BY 



THE REV. G. WALKER, F. R. Si 



Re^d Feb. 24, 1804, 



JL HE encomiums which history has received 

 from writers of the first fame in every age, the 

 high rank which it holds among the produc- 

 tions of human genius, and the general avidity 

 with which it is read, are such arguments of 

 intrinsic worth or interest, or both ; that he 

 must be hardy indeed who should throw down 

 his gauntlet as the adversary of history. If 

 such were my intention, it would argue a 

 boldness approaching to immodesty, and 

 would be a severe condemnation of my own 

 conduct through life. In no form of literature 

 have I felt a deeper interest -, from few, if 

 any, derived greater improvement ^ to none 



