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Every literary work muft contain narratives of feme events, 

 defcriptions of fome objeds, expreffion of emotions and enforce- 

 ments of opinion. It does not feem extraordinary that opinions 

 fliould be enforced by arguments drawn from topics which are 

 congenial to an author's difpofitions, and which therefore have 

 proved themfelves to him the moft powerful inftruments of con- 

 vidion. It will readily be admitted that the fame emotion will 

 Ihew itfelf differently in different minds and tempers, and that 

 of courfe the modes of exprefTing fuch emotions will vary confi- 

 derably. With refped to narratives of events and defcriptions 

 of objcds this is equally certain, though not equally obvious. 

 Each event is attended by a great number of circumftanccs re- 

 lating to perfons, motives, places, inftruments : each objed has 

 a variety of particular adjunds accompanying it in its adual 

 exiftence. To enumerate all thefe, if it were poflible, would be 

 unnecefTary and difgufting. A feledion is therefore, in all cafes, 

 to be made, and the varieties of fuch feledions naturally proceed 

 from the variety in the views and habits of the authors who re- 

 late the events, or defcribe the objeds. If anecdotes related in 

 private converfation partake of the charader of the ftory-teller, 

 the fame muft be prefumed of the biographer, who undertakes his 

 tafk through the impulfe of fome affedion, which of neceffity 

 gains ftrength in the progrefs of his work. If no two eye- 

 witnefTes of the fame fad agree exadly in their reports, a greater 

 agreement cannot be expeded in the records of hil^orians 

 viewing various communications of events, and equally under 

 the influence of variety of temper, and underftanding. Travellers, 



defcribing 



