History. 143 



American public is a Continuation of the History 

 of Massachusetts, by George R. Minot, Esquire, 

 of that State, a work of considerable merit, and 

 which it is hoped the ingenious author will be in- 

 duced soon to complete/ 



A new plan of history was introduced, a few 

 years ago, by the Reverend Dr. Henry, of Edin- 

 burgh, in his History of Great-Britain," in which 

 the civil, military, naval, commercial, constitu- 

 tional, and scientific departments of his work are 

 severally placed in distinct chapters, and while 

 their mutual influence is stated, may each be read 

 separate from the rest, through the whole period 

 embraced by the historian. In this plan he was 

 followed, with some improvements, by Mr. James 

 P. Andrews, whose premature death the lite- 

 rary world has much reason to regret; and to 

 whom it is hoped some successor w T ill appear as 

 competent to tread in his steps as he was in those 

 of Dr. Henry. 



The mode of writing history in the form of 

 Letters is, in a great measure, if not entirely, pe- 

 culiar to the century under consideration. This 

 form of historical composition, it is believed, was 

 first introduced into the English language by Lord 

 Lyttleton, and was afterwards adopted by Dr. 

 Goldsmith, Dr. Russell, and others. That it 

 presents some advantages, chiefly on the score of 

 that ease and familiarity admissible in the epis- 



d Since the above was written, this gentleman, to the regret of all who 

 knew him, has been removed by death. His learning and talents, com- 

 bined with a degree of modesty, urbanity, and dignity of character truly- 

 rare, endeared him to a large and respectable circle of friends, and rendered 

 him one of the ornaments of his native State. Seldom has the memory of 

 any man been more highly respected, or more fondly cherished by his ac- 

 quaintance, than that of George Richards Minot. 



e Some years before the appearance of Dr. Henry's work, Dr. Mo- 

 SHEIM had adopted a plan somewhat similar in his Ecclesiastical History. 

 Dr. Henry is entitled to the honour of having introduced this plan into 

 civil history, and of having conferred upon it several important improve- 

 ments. 



