HISTORY is a connected recital of past or present events.
If the value of each department of knowledge is to be ascertained by the esteem in which it is held by the gene rality of readers, a place of distinguished honour must be assigned to history. Gra tifying that curiosity, which is innate in the mind of man, it is equally delightful to those whose intellect is just dawning, and to those whose faculties are ma tured by the lapse of time and the pro cess of cultivation. Comparateively, few have a relish for abstract speculations ; but almost all are delighted by the dis play of facts. By the pictures which are exhibited in a faithful narration, the fancy is gently excited, and the feelings are in terested, without being agitated to a de gree inconsistent with pleasure. If then we consider history only as a source of elegant amusement, it is an object of no inconsiderable importance in a course of liberal education.
But this is in fact the lowest commen dation to which history is entitled. It is eminently productive of signal utility. The poet'has justly remarked, that " the proper study of mankind is man ;" and it is the office of history to trace the pro eress of man from the savaee state. and through the intermediate degrees of civi lization, to the nearest approach to per fection of which social institutions are ca pable. It falls within its province to note the effects of laws and political regula tions, and to record the wondrous revolu tions which have been produced in states by external violence, and the no less aston ishing changes which have been occasion ed by the gradual corruption of ancient systems of government. The record of past transactions, when diligently and mi nutely examined, will present to the po litician matter of warning and matter of instruction. It will point out the sources of the errors of former days, and will also lead him to A. discernment of the means which have crowned with success such plans as have been productive of benefit to the public. Knowledge which is thus gained is obtained at the cheapest possi ble price. Happy are the directors of po litical affairs, who learn, in the philosophy of history, those lessons which their pre decessors have learnt by the process of painful experience. It has been well ob served by Voltaire, that the history of the sanguinary Chrstiern will deter those, whose influence may happen to sway the destiny of nations, from investing a tyrant with absolute power; and that the disas ter of Charles XII. before Pultowa af
fords a lesson of admonition to a general, not to penetrate without provision into a country like the Ukraine; whilst the pow erful and popular administration of Eliza beth of England demonstrates the mighty effects of extended commerce, and pru dent economy. In a political point of view, the general influence of historical know ledge, is, indeed, of the highest import ance ; it tends to prevent the recurrence, and to diminish the remaining influence, of superstition and religious persecution, and of the long train of calamities with which those direst enemies of human hap piness are accompanied. For who can read the memorials of the papal usurpa tions in the dark ages, and of the melan choly consequences by which they were followed, without imbibing a spirit of to lerance, and a determined disposition to discountenance any claims which may re vive the unjust assumptions of inordinate spiritual power. In short, history, whilst it details the miseries and misfortunes which have upon various occasions befall en civilized man, instructs him how these miseries and misfortunes may hereafter be avoided.
In a moral point of view, history is ex tremely useful, as it points out the issues of things, and exhibits, as its general ro!, suit, the reprobation consequent upon vice, and the glory which awaits virtue. In his days of nature, the oppressor may be applauded by the venal, whilst he lords it over his fellow men, and the wan ton destroyer of the human race may be hailed as a hero by the obsequious or mis taken crowd. But when his dust is min gled with that of the victims of his cruel. ty and ambition, history summons him to her tribunal : she scrutinizes his deeds with impartial strictness, and passes sen tence upon him according to his deserts. The prejudices and errors of time present will hereafter be done away and correct ed by history, which. redresses the wrongs of the injured, and treats with just contempt the insolent assumption of the undeserving. Thus, by the record of crimes, no less than by the display of il lustrious examples of virtue, does history inculcate good principles, and enforce upon the reflecting mind a belief in a superintending Providence.