Chap. XVIL] Hnfojy. 341 



by the recollection that tlie same sources of inlbrni- 

 atioii are o])en to others, and that contemporary 

 rivals^ and many classes of reaxiers, will sit in judg- 

 ment on the truth of their narratives. 



Another great improvement, which began in 

 the eighteenth century to characterise the more 

 formal and dignilied works on civil history, .is 

 connecting the progress of literature, science, arts, 

 and manners, with the chain of civil and military 

 transactions. Very imperfect views of these col- 

 lateral, but important and interesting, objects of 

 inquiry, are to be found in any histories of an 

 earlier date. But of late years, and particularly 

 within the last half century, the best liistorians 

 have interwoven with their narratives of political 

 and military events much amusing and valuable 

 information concerning the rehgion, learning, 

 jaws, customs, trade, and every other object tend- 

 ing to throw light on the progress, genius, and 

 condition of different communities. The import- 

 ance of this improvement will be readily appre- 

 ciated by those who love to study the course of im- 

 provement which the human mind has exhibited ; 

 or who reflect how intimately revolutions and 

 other national events are often connected with the 

 current of literCcry, moral, and religious opinions; ; 

 and how much a knowledge of one is frequently 

 fitted to elucidate the other. 



The author to Avhom we are probably more in- 

 debted than to any other individual, for introduc- 

 ing and recommending this improvement in civil 

 history, is M. Voltaire. His J^e of Lacis XII' 

 was one of the first specimens of a work upon this 

 plan. The attention and admiration which it e.v 



