jo UNIVERSAL ERUDITION'. 



IX. The imperfe&ion in the frame of man, 

 the weakneis of his difcernment, and the errors 

 of his judgment, on one fide, and the ftrength 

 of his pafilons on the other, render his teftimo- 

 nies conftantly equivocal and fulpicious. Hear 

 the accounts of two general officers that have 

 been in the fame battle ; read the gazettes that 

 relate the events which have happened in our 

 own days, and frequently before our eyes, and 

 judge how far you can depend upon the real 

 truth of thofe fads. This being the cafe, you 

 may eafily determine what degree of credit is to 

 be given to thofe marvellous relations, which are 

 fuppofed to have happened among nations lefs 

 enlightened than we are ; in thofe ages, when 

 learning was quite in its infancy, before printing 

 was invented, and when the propagators of falfe 

 reports flood in no dread of the feverity of criti- 

 ciim. Let thefe and many other reflections, that 

 we fhall pafs over in filence, fet due bounds to 

 your hiftoric faith. 



X. The pafTions likewife, to which human 

 nature is liable, conftantly caft a veil over the 

 truth. It is an ancient faying, that an hiftorian 

 ought to have no religion, and no country. He 

 is however, conftantly, either a frjend, or enemy 

 of the prince or hero whofe hiftory he relates ; 

 he is prejudiced for or againft a country, a peo- 

 ple, a religion, a party or government. Pafiion 

 continually guides his pen. We cannot read, 

 without indignation, all that Tacitus writes a- 



