History of the English Landed Interest. 733 
of events, together with a scientific balance of evidence and 
probabilities, and an exposition of cause and effect combined 
with a due estimate of the influence exercised by the principal 
human factors. All history should be studied in its relation to 
the present. The fine maxim of the old law of England from 
the lips of Sir Edward Coke is highly impressive : the right 
knowledge of anything depends on a knowledge of its history. 
And again Lord Bacon’s dictum : a man relying upon his own 
experience only is like a man’s private purse endeavouring to 
keep pace with the exchequer. As everyday experience teaches, 
there is no man so strong in his opinions as he who is 
entrenched in the self-confidence of ignorance. Mr. Gamier 
puts it concretely : “ History teaches land reformers modera- 
tion.” Such a one with hazy conceptions talking glibly of 
reforming the land laws might well pause to ask himself — better 
to consult Mr. Garnier’s book — for a definition of that vaguest 
of will-of-the-wisp terms. Mr. Lecky, in a recent lecture, well 
observed in regard to a really intelligent study of history. 
Gather the dominant idea or characteristic of the particular 
period ; what forces chiefly ruled it ; what forces were rising 
into a dangerous ascendency ; what forces were on the decline ; 
what illusions, what exaggerations, what false hopes and un- 
worthy influences chiefly prevailed. The business man’s in- 
clination would probably be to run swiftly over ancient histoiy, 
to study history carefully and thoughtfully from the era, say, of 
printing, when, having cracked the hard shell of feudalism, 
soldiers and the adscripti glebce emerged and expanded, and 
became as well, in England, husbandmen, merchants, and manu- 
facturers. 
Biography is a charming branch of history which agricultu- 
rally, as industrially, cannot be too much encouraged. To con- 
verse with the vivid and graphic biographer is indeed to keep 
good company. Shakespeare sums this matter in two pregnant 
lines : — 
“ There Ls a history in all men’s lives, 
Figuring the nature of the time deceased.” 
Before turning to consider Mr. Garnier’s critics, I am 
tempted to cite Dr. Barrow : the reading of books, what is it 
but conversing with the wisest men of all ages and all countries, 
who thereby communicate to us their most deliberate thoughts, 
choicest notions, and best inventions, couched in good ex- 
pression and digested in exact method ? I ask myself, in which 
of these two particulars Mr. Gamier excels, and incline to think 
it is in expression. The criticisms of Mr. Garnier’s book which 
I have read^ appear to afford, on the whole, the encouragement 
