278 UNIVERSAL ERUDITION. 



XIV. We have remarked in the fecond fec- 

 tion, that the books which treat on ftatiftics^ 

 or the defcriptions of modern ftates, which ap- 

 proach neareft the exact truth, are made to 

 recede from it by time, by thofe viciflkudes to 

 which all human initiations are liable, and which 

 ariie as well from the daily occurrences, and from 

 thofe grand revolutions that are natural to every 

 flate. This is an unavoidable inconvenience, 

 and for which there is no remedy but the con- 

 flant and judicious peruial of the gazettes and 

 political journals, as the Hiftorical Mercury, &c. 

 Thefe daily and periodical publications afford a 

 continual fupplement to the beft ftatiftic au- 

 thors, and form a kind of practical ftatiftics. 

 It" is for this reafon that the German profeflbw 

 make conftant ufe of them in the univerfities ; 

 for in reading the beft gazettes that are brought 

 by each poft, they explain to their auditors, not 

 only the terms, the facts, and the caufes of e- 

 vents, but by applying thefe facts and events 

 to ftatiftics, they flievv the alterations that are 

 thereby caufed in the conftitution of the coun- 

 try to which they relate. But, to anfwer this 

 purpofe, it is neccflary to make ufe of the beft 

 gazettes of the time, that is, fuch as are efteemed 

 of the greateft veracity, whole authors are not in 

 hafte to infert reports which they are afterwards 

 obliged to contradict ; and that are not infected 

 with a national partiality, or a predilection for 

 a particular court or party, and that do not 

 load their relations with infipid or malignant re- 

 flections. 



