336 Oil the Moral Infiuencc^of History. 



addresses herself to all, that every human beivig 

 has an hiterest in the speculations of the soldier, 

 the statesman, and the philosopher, has a right 

 to appreciate their talents and their services, 

 and therefore .to participate in all the sources 

 of their peculiar acquirements. This no one 

 can or ought to controvert, but in order that 

 history shall minister to this high cultivation of 

 the mind, it is necessary that it be the subject 

 ot our serious study and reflection. It is not a. 

 slight and superficial perusal, it is not the mere 

 knowledge that such a general existed, that he 

 gained such a battle, won such a town, con- 

 quered such a province, that will suffice ; but 

 we must explore the co-operating causes of his 

 , success, whether he owed it to his own judicious 

 skill and improvement of the favourable cir- 

 cumstances which occurred, or it was merely 

 9rrkind of good fortune; we must trace his 

 progress on the map, and acquaint ourselves as 

 much as possible with the local circumstances 

 of the countries which are the theatre of his 

 warfare ; we mu^t enquire into the motives 

 and criticise the;wisdom of his various move- 

 ments, know^ his ^discipline, his .tactics, and 

 contrast them with those of his enemy ; but 

 above cill, to estimate his character, we should 

 carefully" observe^ hoiw }ie won the affections, 

 possessed himself of the confidence, and 



