1 66 observations on IVa (son's history. Feb. i. 



habitants ; the great afsemblage of eminent states- 

 men, and warriors who come under review, and who 

 exert the highest abilities in opposition to one ano- 

 ther ; the numerous difficulties which they encounter \ 

 the many unparalelled examples of heroism, and dis- 

 interested virtue which the y display, and the various 

 stratagems which they employ, all form the noblest, 

 and most instructive subjects for the pen of history, 

 to execute it with becoming dignity, is also one of the 

 most difficult talks : the views of the actors must be 

 often various, intricate, and remote ; the fcenes ©fac- 

 tion, new, complicated, and diversified. 



The subject, however, of itself, confers no pofsitive 

 rrierit on the historian. His praise consists in the view 

 which he has taken of it, in its plan and execution. — 

 Unity ought to be the first study of every writer, but 

 especially of an historian ; though one would imagine 

 that as what he relates is not at his disposal, it would 

 be impofeible to give a uniform tendency, or one great 

 design, to a series of actions which seem really to pof- 

 sefs none : but there is scarcely a period which has not 

 some relation among its parts, however slight, and 

 of which a Ikilful historian will take advantage ; from 

 the want of it also, in some otherwise well-written 

 histories, the subject of which afforded a link to unite 

 the succefsiou of facts, and a point to which they 

 might have been all made to lead, we must suppose 

 that very much in tliis respect is in the power of the 

 historian. The antients, in general, have failed in 

 regard to unity of design, they are content, for the 

 most part, with giving a clear and elegant narration of 

 particular events, as they occur, seldom viewing them 



