1. An objection against the utility of history re- moved. 2. The falfe and true aims of thofe who study it. 3. Of the history of the first 1. That there is in history fufficient authenticity to render it useful, notwithstanding all objec- tions to the contrary. 2. Of the method and ferent profeffions and fituations of men: above all, the ufe to be made of it (i) by divines, and From what period modern history is peculiarly ufe- ful to the fervice of our country, viz. From the end of the fifteenth century to the prefent. The divifion of this into three particular periods; A fketch of the state and history of Europe from the Pyrenean treaty in one thousand fix hun- Chantelou in Touraine, Nov. 6, 1735. HAYE Confidered formerly, with a good deal of attention, the fubject on which you command me to communicate my thoughts to you; and I practifed in those days, as much as bufinefs and pleasure allowed me time to do, the rules that feemed to me neceffary to be obferved in the study of hiftory. They were very different from those which writers on the fame subject have recommended, and which are commonly practifed. But I confefs to your Lordship, that this neither gave me then, nor has given me fince, any diftruft of them. I do not affect fingularity. On the contrary, I think that a due t B defe deference is to be paid to received opinions, and that a due compliance with received cuftoms is to be held; though both the one and the other fhould be, what they often are, abfurd or ridiculous. But this fervitude is outward only, and abridges in no fort the liberty of private judgment. The obligations of fubmitting to it likewife, even outwardly, extend no further than to those opinions and customs which cannot be oppofed, or from which we cannot deviate without doing hurt or giving offence to fociety. In all these cafes, our fpeculations ought to be free: in all other cafes, our practice may be fo. Without any regard, therefore, to the opinion and practice even of the learned world, I am very willing to tell you mine. But, as it is hard to recover a thread of thought long ago laid afide, and impoffible to prove fome things, and explain others, without the affiftance of many books which I have not here; your Lordship must be content with fuch an imperfect sketch as I am able to fend you at present in this letter. THE motives that carry men to the study of history are different. Some intend, if such as they may be faid to ftudy, nothing more than amusement; and read the life of Ariftides or Phocion, of Epaminondas or Scipio, Alexander or Cafar, just as they play a game at cards, or as they would read the ftory of the Seven Champions. Others there are, whose motive to this study is nothing better; and who have the further difadvantage of becoming a nuifance very often to fociety, Refert Choate fociety, in proportion to the progrefs they make. But these are in the two loweft forms. The next I fhall mention are in one a little higher; in the form of those who grow neither wiser nor better by study themselves, but who enable others to study with greater ease, and to purposes more useful; who make fair copies of foul manuscripts, give the fignification of hard words, and take a great deal of other grammatical pains. The obligation to these men would be great indeed, if they were in general able to do any thing better, and submitted to this drudgery for the fake of the public; as fome of them, it must be owned with gratitude, have done, but not later, I think, than about the time of the refurrection of letters. When works of importance are preffing, generals themfelves may take up the pick-axe and the fpade; but in the ordinary course of things, when that preffing neceffity is over, fuch tools are left in the hands destined to use them, the hands of common foldiers and peasants. I approve B 2 |