138 History. 



lished his character as an interesting and instruc- 

 tive writer, and has been more generally perused' 

 and praised than most other historians of the age. 

 He was followed by M. Vertot, who, in several 

 historical works, displayed considerable talents, 

 especially in gracefulness of manner, and in the 

 happy art of rendering his narrative entertaining. 

 Next in order occur the numerous and extensive 

 historical works of M. Voltaire. There can be no 

 question that this writer, in style, in comprehension 

 of mind, in the philosophical cast of his inquiries, 

 and especially in his reflections, exceeded all the 

 former historians which his country had produced. 

 But it requires only a slight acquaintance with his 

 works to perceive that he is partial, uncandid, 

 grossly defective in authenticity, and disposed, 

 upon every pretext, to depart from probability, 

 truth, and decorum, for the purpose of reviling the 

 religion of Christ/ The Abbe Millot succeeded 

 Voltaire, and in his Elements of General Hist o?y, 

 an elegant and popular work, raised a monument 

 to the honour of himself and his country. The 

 Abbe Raynal, in the History of the East and 

 West Indies, presented the public with a produc- 

 tion, which, though not generally respected as 

 authentic, drew much of the attention of the lite- 

 rary world/ To these it would be unpardonable 



this great work, which recommend it to the general perusal and regard o£ 

 those who love truth, virtue and piety. 



k The degree of credit due to M. Voltaire, as a recorder of facts, 

 will appear in the perusal of a work entitled the Letters of certain Jeivs t 

 &.c. written by the Abbe Goenne, Professor of Rhetoric in the University 

 of Paris, and published about the year 1 7 70. In this work the author is 

 enabled, by his profound erudition, his vigorous and penetrating mind, and 

 his talents for mild, but most efficient satire, to place the historian of Ferney 

 in a point of light by no means honourable either- to the accuracy of h*s 

 learning, or to his love of truth. 



v The Abbe Raynal's work is said, by Mr. Bryan Edwards, to 

 have no more title to the character of authentic history than Robinson 

 Crusoe. This is, probably, an extravagant mode of expressing what is 

 no doubt true, that the Abbe is often chargeable with taking his state- 

 ments from imagination rather than from authentic records. 



