94 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
Finally, it is the resultant of all the past conditions of environment 
and experiences, together with the fundamental characteristics of the 
‘races from which the people have sprung (these characteristics them- 
selves the resultant of still earlier surroundings) which have made any 
people what they are to-day, and the clear delimitation of these influences 
is in reality the aim and end of the history. 
It should have the narrative and the critical matter separated. 
Each period should have first its narrative part, unburdened by refer- 
ences and arguments, and forming a complete story in itself, with its 
introduction showing its relation to what has gone before and to contem- 
poraneous events of the world, and its conclusion showing its influence 
upon the present. This is for the general reader. For the student this 
should be followed by critical notes after the manner of Winsor’s 
“America” or Bourinot’s “Cape Breton,” but answering page to page 
with the text of the narrative, giving all needful references to authorities 
and sources of information, bibliographical and biographical and other 
special notes, with notice of questions requiring investigation. The im- 
portance of full bibliography is very great. It is a marked character- 
istic of the modern historian that he goes directly and sends his students 
to the original sources of information, just as the modern naturalist goes 
directly to nature. Finally, there should be a series of appendices to 
contain the more statistical matter, book-lists, map-lists, lists of place- 
names and lists and tables generally. 
It should be tasteful in its make-up. The best art of the book- 
maker is not too good for a work which is to appeal to our highest fac- 
ulties. Its illustrations should be reproductions of old views, maps, por- 
traits, etc., and in no case manufactured pictures. 
These I take to be the chief characteristics of the ideal local history. 
Of course, no single man can ever write such a work, but it is well to 
have ideals and to strive for them. I do not think the co-operation of 
several writers succeeds perfectly, for the result is always uneven. Of 
course it would not pay, and if very local, must be a gift to the public ; 
but thus to give is the blessed lot of most pure scholarship, a not unhappy 
one, for it is amply rewarded in the doing. 
2. THE ARRANGEMENT OF Topics IN A HISTORY OF THE PROVINCE OF 
New Brunswick. 
Following is an outline of the plan above referred to for the history 
of New Brunswick, a plan which, be it remembered, is not merely per- 
sonal, but represents an adaptation—mainly an objective, much less a 
subjective view of the subject. 
