140 History. 



considerably praised, in their own country, for se- 

 veral historical compositions.* 



The historians of the rest of Europe, during this 

 period, though numerous, were few of them ex- 

 tensively known, or higly esteemed. The History 

 of Denmark, by M. P. F. Scjhm, is said to be a 

 work indicating considerable erudition and talents 

 The History of Mexico, by Glavigero, and the 

 History of the New World, by Munoz, as they 

 supplied, in some degree, important desiderata in 

 the republic of letters, may be regarded as among 

 the most interesting of the numerous volumes which 

 might be recounted, did our limits admit of such 

 details. v 



On the whole, it is believed that Great-Britain 

 produced the best models of historical composition 

 of which the eighteenth century can boast. Though 

 some of the French historians, and particularly M. 

 Voltaire, seem to have led the way in forming 

 the present improved taste in this species of writing; 

 yet there can be no doubt but that their British suc- 

 cessors went far beyond them, and produced his- 

 tories which, in the choice and arrangement of 

 facts, in dignity, purity, and elegance of style, and 

 in general authenticity, display an assemblage of 

 excellences which were never before equalled in 

 any age or country. Next to these the historians 

 of France and Germany justly claim superior rank. 

 The other countries of Europe stand in an order, 

 with respect to degrees of excellence, which it is 

 neither easy nor necessary to adjust. 



Though America has not yet produced histo- 

 rians who can vie with the first class of British 

 models, yet she has given birth to a number quite 

 proportioned to her literary age and standing, and 

 some which will do her lasting honour. These all 



« Catteau's View of Sweden, chap, xxiii. 8vo ; Lond. 1790. 



