Jü

NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

581578

48TOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

R

1912

L

1. An objection against the utility of hiftory removed.

2. The falfe and true aims of thofe who ftudy it.

3. Of the history of the first ages; with reflections on

the state of ancient hiftory, profane and facred.

32

1. That there is in hiftory fufficient authenticity to render

it ufeful, notwithstanding all objections to the contrary.

2. Of the method and due reftrictions to be observed

in the study of it.

73

1. The great ufe of hiftory, properly fo called, as diftin-

guished from the writings of mere annalifts and anti-

quaries. 2. Greek and Roman hiftorians.
3. Some

idea of a complete history. 4. Further cautions to be

observed in this study, and the regulation of it accord-

ing to the different profeffions, and fituations of men:

above all, the use to be made of it (1) by divines,

and (2) by thofe who are called to the fervice of

their country.
92

LETTER V I.

From what period modern history is

the fervice of our country, viz.

the fifteenth century to the prefent.

peculiarly useful, to

From the end of

The divifion of

Pag.

this into three particular periods; in order to a sketch

of the hiftory and state of Europe from that time. 123

LETTER VII.

A sketch of the ftate and hiftory of Europe from the

Pyrenean treaty, in one thousand fix hundred and fifty

nine, to the year one thousand fix hundred and eighty-

eight.

LETTER VIII.

152

The fame fubject continued from the year one thousand

fix hundred and eighty-eight.

LETTER I X.

A plan for a general hiftory of Europe.

195

302

STUDY of HISTORY.

LETTER I.

MY LORD,

I HAVE

Chantelou in Touraine, Nov. 6, 1735.

HAVE Confidered formerly, with a good deal of attention, the subject on which you command me to communicate my thoughts to you: and I practifed in those days, as much as business and pleasure allowed me time to do, the rules that feemed to me neceffary to be observed in the study of history. They were very different from those which writers on the fame fubject have recommended, and which are commonly practifed. But I confess to your lordship, that this neither gave me then, nor has given me fince, any distrust of them. I do not affect fingularity. On the contrary, I think that a due 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 should 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 submitting to it likewise, even, outwardly,

A