HIS 
For the correct arrangement of the order of 
events, he will not shrink from the task of 
poring over pedigrees, or examining coins. 
It has been well observed, by the pro- 
found Pinkerton, that by the study of me- 
dals alone, Vaillant ‘‘ was enabled to ascer- 
tain, in a very great degree, the chronology 
of three important kingdoms of the ancient 
world, namely, those' of Egypt, of Syria, 
and of Parthia.” 
Such are the principal sources from which 
may be derived a knowledge of historic 
truth. To enumerate all the materials of 
history would be an almost endless task ; 
but in order to make due profit of these 
materials, wherever they may occur, the 
student ought to be animated by tfyj spirit 
of philosophical enquiry. “ Incredulity,” 
says Aristotle, “ is the foundation of all 
wisdom.” Without the gift of discrimination 
the historian degenerates into a chronicler 
of fables; without the faculty of deducing 
useful consequences, he is degraded into a 
registrar of barren facts. To distinguish 
truth from falshood in the obscure records 
of former times, or amidst the misrepresen- 
tations of factious malignity in more modern 
periods, requires no small degree of saga- 
city. Voltaire has justly observed, that in 
order to be qualified to seize the proper 
objects of history, a man must not 'be ac- 
quainted with books alone. He must have 
a minute knowledge of the human heart, 
and be qualified to analyze the prejudices 
and the passions of men. He will give due 
weight to circumstances and situations. He 
will not estimate the character of a despot 
by the panegyric of a courtier ; nor will he 
pass sentence of condemnation on a prince 
who has resisted ecclesiastical claims and 
restrained the power of the clergy, because 
he is vilified in the chronicles of a monk. 
The enlightened student of'history will 
not direct his chief attention to the frivo- 
lous anecdotes of a court, but to the cir- 
cumstances which stamp the character and 
decide the destiny of a nation. He will 
enquire what lias been its radical vice or its 
predominant virtue; why it has been power- 
ful or weak by sea or land ; what has been 
the improvement or the deterioration of 
its trade and commerce; wherein consist 
the excellencies and the defects ofits civil 
and municipal institutions ; what have been 
the constitution, and what the influence of 
its ecclesiastical establishments.' He will 
trace the introduction of arts and manufac- 
tures, and observe the changes which have 
taken place in manners and in laws. 
HOL 
Such are the materials and such the objects 
of history, than which next to our relation 
to the deity, no more important topic of 
enquiry can be presented to the human in. 
’tellect. 
HITCH, in thg sea language, is to catch 
hold of any thing with a hook or rope, and 
by this means to hold it fast; thus when a 
boat is to be foisted in, the sailors say, 
“ Hitch the tackles into the ring bolts of the 
boat ;” and when they are about to weigh 
anchor, “ Hitch the fish-hook to the fluke of 
the anchor.” 
HIVE, in country affairs, a convenient 
receptacle for bees. See Bee. 
HOD, an instrument used to carry bricks 
and mortar in, up ladders, &c. to build or 
repair houses, &c. with. 
HODMAN, an appellation given to a 
young student admitted into Christ’s Col- 
lege in Oxford, from Westminster school. 
HOE, in country aflairs, a tool made like 
a cooper’s adze, to eut upwards in gardens, 
fields, &c. This tool is commonly called 
the hand hoe. 
HOFFMANNIA, in botany, so named in 
memory of Maurice Hoffman, a genus of 
the Tetrandria Monogynia class and order. 
Natural order of Stellatse. Rubiaceae, Jussieu. 
Essential character ; calyx four-toothed ; 
corolla salver-shaped, four-parted ; filaments 
none ; berry two-celled, many-seeded. There 
is only one species, viz, II. pedunculata, a 
ndtive of Jamaica. 
HOG. See Sus. 
Hog, hedge. See Erinaceus. 
HOKE day, the Tuesday after Easter 
week, which was the day on which the 
English conquered and expelled the Danes; 
this was therefore kept as a day of rejoic- 
ing, and a duty, called Hoke Tuesday mo- 
ney, was paid to the landlord, for giving 
his tenants and bondmen leave to cele- 
brate it. 
HOLCUS, in botany, a genus of the 
Polygamia Monoecia class and order. Na- 
tural order of Gi amina or Grasses. Essen- 
tial character; hermaphrodite, calyx glume, 
one or two-flowered ; corolla glume, awned ; 
stamina three ; styles two ; seed one : male, 
calyx glume, two-valved ■ corolla none ; 
stamina three. There are fifteen species. 
HOLD, that part of a ship which lies 
between the keelson and the lower deck ; 
in which, divided by bulk heads, are the 
steward’s-room, powder-room, bread-room, 
and the boatswain’s and carpenter’s store- 
rooms. In a merchantman, all the goods 
and lading in general, are stowed in the hold. 
