344 History. [Chap. XVIL 



pears as the first respectable historian *. His Hi- 

 story of England, written in the French language, 

 was first published at the Hague, in 1/27, ^nd soon 

 afterwards translated into English bv Nicliolas 

 Tindal f . Though Rapin was by no means ma- 

 ster of an agreeable style ; and though his zeal to 

 be as full and accurate as possible, led him to pro- 

 tract his work to a tedious length ; yet he is en- 

 titled to the honour of having compiled one of the 

 most complete, impartial, and satisfactory histo- 

 ries extant. He was one of the last historians of 

 any note who loaded the text of his work with 

 speeches and stale-papcrs. 



In 17'57 another History of England was pub- 

 lished by Dr. SmoUet J. This production is scarcely 

 equal to the talents of the writer, being compiled 

 in great haste, and rather with a view to profit 

 than fame, and with scarcely any attention to ori- 

 ginal sources of information. Still with regard to 

 style, it M'as a considerable step in the course of 

 improvement, and exhibited excellences in this 

 respect superior to any preceding English historian. 

 In 1^55 Islw Hume published his History of the 

 Reigns of James I and Char ks I; in 17^6 tJie Reigns 



^ Paul Rap'm de Thoyras was born in France, and came to 

 England in 1688, in the army of the prince of Orange. He 

 afterwards fixed his residence in Holland, where he died, in J 725, 

 before the publication of his history. 



t Nicholas Tindal was nephew to Dr. Matthew Tindal, the 

 celebrated deistical writer. 



X Tobias Smollet was born at a village near Cameron, in Scot- 

 land in 1/10. His first considerable work was Roderick Randoji?, 

 published in 1749, which brought him into reputation. His 

 other works are numerous, consisting chiefly of novels. He died 

 inl77l. 



