64 



HISTORY. 



llUtary. which is presupposed, than a detail of the facts them- 

 x "" ""V"* selves. The Hisluire Modtrne of the Abbe Millot is 

 a judicious abridgment. It deserves the character of 

 accuracy and impartiality ; but, besides being liable to 

 the objections that h:ive been offered to the ancient 

 liiftory of the same author, it is too much compressed 

 for the extent and importance of the topics which it 

 Russel. embraces. Russel's History of Modern Europe is a 

 work of a much higher character, and much more va- 

 luable and useful to the student in every respect. Its 

 merits appear to us not sufficiently known and prized. 

 Probably by those who have never read it, it is suppo- 

 sed that no great talents could be required or exercised 

 in drawing up a mere abridgment of history. But 

 the contrary is the fact: to judge from this work of 

 Russel's, he must have been a man of considerable pe- 

 netration, sound judgment, a philosophical spirit, and 

 correct taste. His work is divided into two parts ; 

 the first embracing the period from the rise of modern 

 kingdoms to the peace of Westphalia in 1648, and the 

 second comprehending the events of history from the 

 peace of Westphalia to the peace of Paris in 1763. A 

 third part, bringing the history down from the peace 

 of Paris to the treaty of Amiens in 1802, has been add- 

 ed by Dr Coote, who, though he has strictly adhered 

 to the plan, has by no means attained to the merits of 

 the original work. The subdivision of the plan is ef- 

 fected with considerable skill and ingenuity in a series 

 of letters, in which the principal transactions of the 

 leading European states are concatenated with as rigid 

 adherence to chronological order, as was consistent 

 with the mixed and fluctuating interests of those states. 

 By passing over events which derived their import- 

 ance and interest merely from the period in which they 

 occurred, or the personages who were concerned in 

 them, he has been enabled to give more room for those 

 of a more permanent nature. As a repository of facts, 

 therefore, judiciously selected, methodically arranged, 

 and authenticated with sufficient learning and diligence, 

 this modern history of Europe may justly be regarded 

 as a work of very great utility ; but it deserves higher 

 praise. The causes and consequences of the most im- 

 portant events are traced with great ingenuity and pe- 

 netration, at the same time that fanciful speculations 

 regarding them are carefully avoided. The observa- 

 tions on the characters of the principal personages are 

 distinguished by the vivid and faithful pictures which 

 they exhibit. The progress of society from the rise of 

 modern kingdoms down to the peace of Paris in 1763, 

 exhibiting the manners of the people in their rudest 

 state, and in their highest polish, is given at stated pe- 

 viods with much ability and research. The advances 

 made in taste and science, and the usurpations of the 

 ecclesiastical at the expence of the civil power, are 

 clearly developed ; and, being connected with the pro- 

 gress of war, politics, and legislation, exhibit, in a clear 

 and conspicuous manner, the intellectual and moral 

 improvement of European society. The style of this 

 work is pure, elegant, and concise ; and the reflections 

 that are interspersed, always illustrate and confirm 

 the sacred principles of public and private justice. 

 General This work will serve to exhibit the great and lead- 



views f the ing outlines of the events of modern history ; and 

 y * from Gibbon's Decline and Fall may be traced the ori- 

 gin of those barbarous tribes, whose chiefs, at different 

 periods, making themselves masters of the various sub- 

 divisions of the Roman empire, laid the foundations of 

 the modern kingdoms of Europe. The student having 

 thus gained a general knowledge of modern history, as 



well as a more particular insight into the origin of the History. 

 European states, ought, in the next place, to peruse ""-"V"^ 

 those works which exhibit a general view of the histo- 

 ry of modern Europe at various periods. 



Much valuable information relative to one of the Gailkrd. 

 most important of the early periods of modern history is 

 to be derived from the Histoire de Charlemagne, pub- 

 lished by M. Gaillard in the year 1782, in four vols. History of 

 12mo. The general state of Europe in the llth centu- Ab , cl jiV 1 .. 

 ry is described by Mr Berrington in the second edition "" 

 of the Lives of Abelardand Eloise. In the Abbe Sade's History of 

 Memoires Sur la Vic du Francois Peirarque, the author, P etrarc ' u 

 by regularly indulging in details of circumstances with 

 which Petrarch has little or no connection, has contri- 

 ved to interweave into these memoirs a minute and ela- 

 borate account of the events which took place in Italy, 

 France, and other parts of Europe, during the greater 

 part of the 14th century. The history of this period may 

 still be further illustrated by the Chronicles of Frois- Froissart. 

 sart, which, besides a minute detail of the transactions 

 which occurred from 1326 to 1400, give a most inte- 

 resting and amusing insight into the manners, customs, 

 habits, and feelings of that period. A succinct narra- shepherd's 

 tive of general history is also to be found in Shepherd's Life of 

 Life of Poggio, which, relating to the origin of the fa- Poggio, 

 mous ecclesiastical feud, the schism of the West, al- 

 most touches the period of Petrarch, and traces the 

 principal occurrences which took place in Italy and 

 Europe in general, beyond the middle of the 15th cen- 

 tury. The Life of Lorenzo de Medici, by Mr Roscoe, Roscoe's 

 may be next perused : as Lorenzo's political connec- Life { 

 tions were very extensive, his history embraces the Lo * enzo 

 principal occurrences which happened in the more ci- 

 vilised portions of Europe, during his life from 1448 to 

 1492. The succeeding period of general history is il- 

 lustrated by the same author in his Life of Leo X. In and of 

 this work, Mr Roscoe enters fully into the state of Its- Leo X. 

 ly and Europe, which had so much influence on the 

 fortune of that people, and which was also in no small 

 degree modified by his actions. In both these works, 

 Mr Roscoe has given a copious history of the progress 

 of literature and the fine arts. 



The History of Charles V. next becomes the most Robertson's 

 prominent in the general history of Europe ; and, with Charles V. 

 this view of it, it has been most ably written by Dr Ro- 

 bertson. The first volume of his work contains a view 

 of the progress of society in Europe, from the subversion 

 of the Roman Empire to the beginning of the 16th cen- 

 tury, embracing the several heads of government, laws, 

 manners, military establishments, and the political con- 

 stitution of the principal states of Europe. The Histo- 

 ry itself comprehends the eventful period between the 

 years 1500 and 1559, during which events took place 

 which materially affected the state of society, and the ad- 

 vancement of literature, knowledge, and liberty in Eu- 

 rope. The Histories of Philip II. and III., by Drs Philip II. 

 Watson and Thompson, may also be read with refer- an< l '" 

 ence to a general acquaintance with the history of Eu- 

 rope during the period of their reigns, and to a know- 

 ledge of several events, which tended materially to 

 change the relative situation and importance of the 

 various states of Europe. Indeed, the political allian- 

 ces and wars of these monarchs involve the interests of 

 so many kingdoms, that their history displays the gene- 

 ral topics of the history of Europe till the year 1621, 

 the period of the death of Philip III.. 



Soon afterwards the French monarchy began to as- 

 sume such a rank, and to connect itself with so many 

 states, that its history ought to be perused, as throw- 

 4 



