HISTORY. 233 



One formula of history, not wholly new, indeed, 

 nor without its recommendations, has recently become 

 common in this country. It is, in fact, history carried 

 on by a series of biographies of persons who have suc- 

 cessively filled some eminent place in public affairs, 

 archbishops, chancellors, chief justices, &c. Such 

 scheme of narrative, impartially conducted, has the 

 advantage always derived from continuity in the main 

 object, while collaterally including the various rela- 

 tions of each such series to the other elements of 

 national government. There is danger, doubtless, lest 

 this method be carried too far, and lead to unimportant 

 biographies written by inferior hands. The saying of Sir 

 Thomas Browne, ' There goes a great deal of conscience 

 to the writing of a history,' applies especially to cases 

 where biography forms the substratum of what is 

 written. But it has fitting application also to his- 

 torians at large. Honesty of general purpose and 

 honesty in details are not less essential than the faculty 

 of judgment as to the evidence of facts. Cicero de- 

 notes as the prima lex of history, ' ne quid falsa dicere 

 audeat, ne quid veri non audeat.' 



To recur to history in its more general sense. 

 When we speak of the history of the world, how few con- 

 sider the wide gaps in this great story the vast periods 

 of time shrouded in impenetrable darkness ! These 

 periods are not solely such as come before all certain 

 record, but those also which often interpose and blend 

 themselves with recognised history. A single century 

 may be rich in its record of men and events in a 

 country where succeeding centuries have passed away 



