HISTORY, Ix this article it is proposed, in the first place, to point out and explain the various advantages of the study of history; secondly, to enumerate those branches of study which ought to be entered upon, previous to, or contemporary with the study of history ; thirdly,•to give a brief and rapid sketch of the order in which ancient and modern general histories may most conveniently and advantageously be read ; fourthly, to point out the order in which the history of particular countries may be read, so that they may be illustrative of one another ; fifthly, to notice the different species of history besides what is emphatically called His tory.
I. With respect to the advantages which may be derived from the study of history, they are various and important :• if the value of that department of science is to be rated highest, which combines advantages of the most obvious and beneficial nature, history possesses a very strong clam to our attention and study. It is equally attractive to the unreflecting and philosophical mind: the former it inter ests by the excitation of novelty ; the latter by the useful ness and importance of the general principles which may be deduced from the facts which it records. But perhaps the utility and value of this branch of study cannot he placed in a more obvious and conspicuous point of view, than by stating that it combines amusement of the deepest interest ; the exercise and improvement of the best facul ties of man ; and the acquisition of the most important species of knowledge.
History, considered merely as a source of amusement, is infinitely preferable to novels and romances, the perusal of which too frequently debilitates the intellect by inflam ing the imagination, and corrupts the heart by the infusion of what may justly be regarded as moral poison. What. ever valuable impressions are made upon the mind by fic titious adventures, the same in kind, though, perhaps, ge nerally not equal in degree, are made by the perusal of his tory ; and while works of fiction arc not in their nature ca pable, in general, of any other uses than the authors had in view, which must necessarily be very limited ; true histo ry, being an exhibition of the conduct of Providence, has infinite relations and uses, and may be regarded as an in exhaustible mine of the most valuable knowledge. It has
been very justly remarked, that " works of fiction resem ble those machines which we contrive to illustrate the prin ciples of philosophy, such as globes and orreries, the uses of which extend no farther than the views of human inge nuity ; whereas real history resembles the experiments made by the air-pump, the condensing engine, or electri cal machine, which exhibit the operations of nature, and the God of nature himself, whose works are the noblest subject of contemplation to the human mind, and are the ground-work and materials of the most extensive and use ful knowledge." But a higher use of history is, to improve the under standing and strengthen the judgment : by studying history, and examining into the causes and consequences of the events which it unfolds, the penetration is sharpened, the atten tion of the mind is fixed, and the comprehension enlarged : hence are acquired the faculty of discovering quicker, and that flexibility and steadiness so necessary to be found in the conduct of all affairs, that depend on the concurrence or opposition of other men. It is a great, but a prevalent mistake, to imagine, that history is calculated to enlighten tile judgment only on those subjects which are connected with the welfare of the community at large ; it is nearly in an equal degree calculated to enlighten the judgment on those that bear on individual utility and comfort. In this respect the advantages of history are more important than those we derive from our own individual observation and experience ; for though the impressions made by the lat ter will be more vivid, and probably more permanent, yet the knowledge we derive from history is more correct, and consequently a better guide to us. in our intercourse with the world ; for the examples which it presents are gene rally complete ; the whole is before us ; whereas in real life, every scene opens very slowly, and we consequently see but a small part of a thing at a time ;—hence we are liable to be deceived in our judgment of it.