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REFLEXIONS 



ON 



HISTORY 



AND ON 



Historians, Ancient and Modern, 



SY 



JOHN HOLLAND. 



Read Dec. 30th, t8o> 



X ERHAPS on examination, it will be found 

 that no kind of writing is more ancient than 

 history. Originally it seems that the records 

 of different nations were drawn up in a sort of 

 verse or measured prose for the sake of being 

 the more interesting, and the better remem- 

 bered. These historical odes were probably 

 recited or sung at public festivals or on days of 

 rejoicing. The next form which history as- 

 sumed may be called the dramatic, and was 

 intended to be a faithful transcript of actual 

 conversation. Moses is the oldest known his- 

 torian, who adopted this kind of writing, in 



