Chap. XVII.] History, 347 



worthy of honourable disthictlun, belonging to the 

 period of this retrospect. Lord Lvttleton's Hi- 

 story of Henry H has long and deservedly sus* 

 tained a very high character. Dr. (iokUniillis 

 Histories of Rome and England ?iXC\\'xau-A\ \\\ the 

 agreeable style of that popular author. The Hi- 

 story of EngUntd by j\Irs. Alacauhiy is a very 

 respectable specimen of female talents, and holds 

 a conspicuous place in the list of English histori- 

 cal compositions. Beside these the histories of 

 Dr. Henry, professor Stuart, Dr. Watson, ^Ir, 

 Mitford, Dr. Gillies, Dr. Coote, .Mr. Ferguson, 

 Dr. Russell, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Belsham, and 

 several others, have received much praise. To 

 /Jesignate the comparative and peculiar merits of 

 each of these would lead to a discussion altoge- 

 ther beyond the limits of this chapter. It is suf- 

 ficient to say that, with different views, and va- 

 Tious degrees and kinds of talents, they have all 

 presented the public with works which do them 

 honour, and which occupy an important space in 

 the annals of English literature. 



But it was not only in Great Britain that histo- 

 rians of a highly respectable character arose in 

 the course of the last age. Most of the countries 

 of Europe, and especially those distinguished by 

 the cultivation of letters, may boast of a number 

 who hokl an elevated rank in the same department 

 of literature. 



The historians of France, during this period, 

 were numerous and distini>'uished. Earlv in the 

 century jM. llollin, \)\ hh Aneicnt Historij*, v^Va.- 



* The respect every where pnid by M. RoUiii, in the ronr-e 

 of his hib'tory, to the governaicnt and pravJ.I'juce of Gcxl, :ind to 



