86 UNIVERSAL ERUDITION. 



XV II I. We would then pafs with our pupil 

 through a curfory ledion of thole authors, as 

 well ancient as modern, that are called the 

 fources of hiftory (fontes) : of thefe we would 

 choofe but a faiall number, and would take 

 particular care to felect thofe only whole authen- 

 ticity appears unqueftionable. After this, we 

 would go through a complete courie of univer- 

 fal hiftory, which we would endeavour to en- 

 liven with moral, political and military reflec- 

 tions, with critical remaks on dubious fads, &c. 

 And here efpecially, we would place before his 

 fight the portraits of thofe great men who have 

 filled the throne, or direded the c binet, have 

 commanded armies, adorned the mitre, or illu- 

 mined the fciences. We would endeavour here 

 to point out their virtues and their vices, their 

 fagacious and their futile adions, their glory and 

 their mame. We would paint the tyrant, the 

 rapacious minifter, the fenlclefs or brutal com- 

 mander, the bigoted prieft, and the idly labo- 

 rious fcholar, in their proper and difguftful 

 colours : in a word, it is here that we would 

 endeavour to draw all that comprehenfive and 

 and lading utility which hiftory is capable of 

 affording. 



XIX. In the laft place , during the remainder of 

 thofe years which are confecrated to his educa- 

 tion, \ve would teach him the hiftory of each 

 particular modern nation, beginning with that of 

 his own country : and here we would point out 



the 



