t'jgi. obsef'vaiions on JVatson^s history. ^ 



band, all inspired with the noble flame of liberty, and 

 exhibiting in their whole conduct the greatest inte- 

 grity and heroism, we have a double aversion to the 

 one party, and our affection towards the other is 

 greatly increased. 



On every subject our author maintains all the 

 grave and philosophical dignity of an historian ; he 

 admits nothing quaint or witty, light or trivial on 

 on any occasion. His accurate and extensive ac- 

 quaintance with what he relates, his candour an.l 

 regard to truth cannot well be surpafsed ; his senti- 

 ments are manly and independent, but modest and 

 unafsuming. The morality which runs through this 

 work is pure,* delicate, and chaste, unaffected, and. 

 without ostentation. 



Though Watson cannot be called a sprightly or 

 volatile writer, he is never dnll, drawling, or languid ; 

 a chaste philosophical animation is always preserved, 

 a vivacity tempered by the serious dignity of an 

 historian. If he does not dazzle us with flame, in 

 recompence we have no smoke. If he does not soai' 

 to high flights, we have the satisfaction to find that 

 he is never out of vSew. If he does not gild over 

 liis scenes with the splendour of poetical description, 

 we are secure of not being upon enchanted ground ; 

 we are always wliere we ought to be, among subjects 

 of truth ami nature. He does not, in Ihort ,like some 

 ■writers, injudiciously atiticipate the feelings of his 

 readers, by a perpetual rapture of enthusiasm ; his 

 aim is simply to alford, in the most striking manner, 

 a proper subject for sucli sensations, and leave them 

 to be afTtctcd with it accordin'i to the several de- 



