fjgz. ohservations on Watson^s history, 9« 



The difficulties are so great and so various, that we 

 do not wonder so few have succeeded in this depart- 

 ment of history : Much penetration is necefsary to 

 discriminate the natural character of the hero, froai 

 that political one which his particular situation ob- 

 liges him to afsume ; they are often so much blen- 

 ded, that the historian is at a lofs to discern any 

 character at all. An amiable partiality to virtue- 

 and heroism, misleads many, while still more have a 

 preiudice for certain characters, on account of their 

 own pre-conceived notions, with regard to a particu- 

 lar system of laws, morality, and religion, and some 

 in lliort have a partiality for a favourite character 

 witliout any reason. That profoixnd and manly 

 simplicity of investigation, which distinguilhes our 

 author on all occasions, is also very apparent here 

 His characters are consistent, intelligible, and com- 

 plete. He is not indeed ambitious to delight the 

 imagination, merely by painting them in vivid 

 and brilliant colours, he does not wilh to surprise his 

 readers by strained efforts of ingenuity, and to con- 

 found them witli a dazzling picture ; but rather t» 

 exhibit the sober and faithful lineaments of truth. 

 The character of Philip, himself, is delineated with a 

 masterly pencil ; his actions proceed in an uniform 

 tenor of cruelty, difsimulation, and despotism ; and 

 tlie simple detail of them which is given in this 

 history, makes a more forcible imprefsion on t!ic 

 mind, than though they had been loaded with the 

 most violent epithets, and the most aggravated invec- 

 tives; his character h not of a general and uiideter- 

 mined fc.iud, it is always marked witU certain pccii- 



