8rj6 Ilutory. [Chap. XVIL 



relating thereto, which the rulers of the State arc 

 concerned to examine and to know. Those who 

 have written histories of this kind in Germany are 

 numerous. Achcnwall of that country is generally 

 considered as the father of regular statistics : he 

 has been followed by many of his countrymen. 

 The first and most conspicuous Statistical historian 

 in the annals of English literature is sir John Sin- 

 clair, who has collected, in this form, an amount 

 of information concerning North Britain, which 

 does much honour not only to the individuals who 

 furnished the information, but also to the industry 

 and public spirit of the editor *. 



The execution of a plan of Uiiiversal History, 

 to any considerable and useful extent, was first ac- 

 complished in the eighteenth century. It is certain 

 that English literature can boast of no respectable 

 production of this kind before the commencement 

 of the period in question. Since that time works 

 of this nature have been compiled in various parts 

 of Europe, and some of them are entitled to high 

 praise, with respect both to their fulness and their 

 judicious structure. 



The last age was also very productive of another 

 class of historians, which had appeared in the. 

 preceding one, in a great measure peculiar to 

 it. These are the persons who have undertaken 

 to deduce the progress, and exhibit the condition, 



* Proposals have been published for the compilation of statisti- 

 cal histories of several of the American States, and smaller dis- 

 tricts of our own country. Among the most important and pre- 

 mising of these are the proposals made by the Connecticut Aca- 

 demy of Arts and Sciences, to publish a statistical histor}^ of that 

 State. From the talents and learning included in that body, high 

 expectations are formed concerning tlieir projected work. 



