VOLTAIRE. 103 



the author in seizing upon the more remarkable fea- 

 tures of each subject, and conveying both the accounts 

 of events or of individuals, and the reflections to which 

 they justly lead, at once with great brevity and with 

 striking effect. But it is also to be remarked that in 

 the two great qualities of the historian he eminently 

 excels his diligence and his impartiality. To take an 

 example of the former, we may observe that it would 

 not be easy anywhere to find a more accurate account 

 of the Council of Trent than in the 172nd chapter ; 

 and there are, in various other parts of the work, marks 

 to be perceived of his having consulted even the least 

 commonly-known writers and authorities for the ma- 

 terials of his narrative or subjects of his reflections. A 

 testimony of the greatest value was, indeed, borne to his 

 learning and accuracy by no less an authority than 

 Robertson, himself the most faithful of historians, ac- 

 cording to Gibbon's description. Speaking of "that ex- 

 traordinary man whose genius no less enterprising than 

 universal has attempted almost every species of literary 

 composition, in many excelled, and in all, save where 

 he touches religion, is instructive and agreeable ;" the 

 great historian adds that had Voltaire only given his 

 authorities, " many of his readers who only consider 

 him as an entertaining and lively writer, would have 

 found that he is a learned and well-informed his- 

 torian." 



Voltaire in no part of his work disguises his peculiar 

 opinions, but in none can he fairly be charged with 

 making his representation of the facts bend to them. 

 It would not be easy to imagine subjects upon which 

 he was more likely to be warped by those opinions than 



