Those epitomes of modern history, which are connected with ancient history, have already been mentioned. We shall now notice such epitomes as are confined to modern history. A good general epitome was a work long wanting to the republic of letters. We have omitted to notice the Ancient Universal History in the former part of this arti cle, because it is much too voluminous to serve as an intro duction to a general knowledge of ancient history. The same remark applies to the Modern Universal History. • Both of them are much more useful as books of refereoce, or for consultation, after a tolerably accurate and extensive knowledge of history has been acquired, than as intro ductory works ; besides, the various portions of both are executed with very unequal degrees of merit. Voltaire's Essai sur Ins ilfreurs et l'Es/urit drs Nations is rather a commentary on facts, an acquaintance with which is pre supposed, than a detail of the facts themselves. The Histoire Moderne of the Abbe Millot is a judicious abridg ment. It deserves the character of accuracy and impar tiality ; hut, besides being liahle to the objections that have been offered to the ancient histot y of the same author, it is too much compressed, for the r xtent and importam.ce of the topics which it embraces. Russel's History of Modern Europe is a work of a much higher character, and much more valuable and useful to the student in every respect. Its merits appear to us not sufficiently known and prized. Probably, by those who have never read it, it is supposed that no great talents could he required or exercised in drawing up a mere abridgment of history. But time contra ry is time fact: to judge from this work of Russel's, he must have been a man of considerable penetration, sound judgment, a philosophical spirit, and correct taste. His NVOlk is divided into two parts; the first embracing the pe riod from the rise of modern kingdoms to the pence of Westphalia in 1648, and the second comprehending the events of history from the peace of IVestphalia to the peace of Paris in 1763. A third part, bringing the history down from the peace of Paris to the treaty of Amiens in 1802, has been added by Dr Coote, who, though he has strictly adhered to the plan, has by no means attained to the merits of the original woe k. The subdivision of the plan is effected with considerable skill and ingenuity in a series of 'ears, in which the principal transactions of the leading European states are concatenated with as rigid ad herence to chronological order, as was consistent with the mixed and fluctuating interests of those states. By pass ing over events which derived their importance and inte rest merely from the period in which they occurred, or the personages who were concerned in them, he has been ena bled to give more room for those of a more permanent na ture. As a repository of facts, therefore, judiciously se lected, methodically arranged, and authenticated with suf ficient learning and diligence, this modern history of Europe may justly be regarded as a vurk of very great utility; but it deserves higher praise. The causes and consequences of the most important events are traced with great ingenui ty and penetration, at the same time that fanciful specula tions regarding them are carefully avoided. The observa tions on the characters of the principal personages are dis tinguished by the vivid and faithful pictures which they exhibit. The progress of society from the rise of modern kingdoms down to the peace of Paris in 1763, exhibiting the manners of the people in their rudest state, and in their highest polish, is given at stated periods with much ability and research. The advances made in taste and science, and the usurpations of the ecclesiastical at the expense of the civil power, are clearly developed ; and, being connect ed with the progress of war, politics, and legislation, exhi bit, in a clear and conspicuous manner, the intellectual and moral improvement of European society. The style of this work is pure, elegant, and concise ; and the reflections that are interspersed always illustrate and confirm the sa cred principles of public and private justice.
This work will serve to exhibit the great and leading outlines of the events of modern history ; and from Gib bon's Decline and Fall may be traced the origin of those barbarous tribes, whose chiefs, at different periods, making themselves masters of the various subdivisions ofthe Roman empire, laid the foundations of the modern kingdoms of Europe. The student having thus gained a general know ledge of modern history, as well as a more particular in sight into the origin of the European states, ought, in the next place, to peruse those Works which exhibit a general view of the history of modern Europe at various periods.
Much valuable information relative to one of the most important of the early periods of modern history is to be de rived from the Histoire de Charlemagne, published by M.
Gaillard in the year 1732, in four vols. 12.no. The gene ral state of Europe in the t tth century is nesclibed by Mr Barrington in the second edition of the Lives of Ahelard and Eloise. In the Abbe Sade's Memoires sur la Vie du Francois Petrarque. the author, by regularly indulging in details of circumstances with which Petrarch has little or no connection, has contrived to interweave into these me moirs a minute and elaborate account of the events which took place in Italy, France, and other parts of Europe, dur ing the greater part of the 14th century. The history of this period may still be further illustrated by the Chroni cles of Froissart, which, besides a minute detail of the trans actions which occurred from 1326 to 1400, give a most in teresting and amusing insight into the manners, customs, habits,and feelings of that period. A succinct narrative of general history is also to be found in Shepherd's Life of Poggio, which, relating to the origin of the famous eccle siastical feud, the schism of the West, almost touches the period of Petrarch, and traces the principal occurrences which took place in Italy, and Europe in general, beyond the middle of the 15th century. The Life of Lorenzo de Medici, by Mr Roscoe, may be next perused : as Loren zo's political connections were very extensive, his history embraces the principal occurrences which happened in the more civilized portions of Europe during his life, from 1448 to 1492. The succeeding period of general history is illustrated by the same author in his Life of Leo X. In this work, Mr. Roscoe enters fully into the 'skate of Italy and Europe, which had so much influence on the fortune of that people, and which was also in no small degree modi fied by his actions. In both these works Mr Roscoe has given a copious history of the progress of literature and the tine arts.
The History of Charles V. next becomes the most pro minent in the general history of Europe; and, with this view of it, it has been most ably written by Dr Robertson. The first volume of his work contains a view of the pro gress of society in Europe, from the subversion of the Ro man Empire to the beginning of the 16th century, embrac ing the several heads of government, laws, manners, mili tary establishments, and the political constitution of the principal states of Europe. The History itself compre hends the eventful period between the years 1500 and 1559, during which events took place which materially affected the state of society, and the advancement of literature, knowledge, and liberty, in Europe. The Histories of Philip II. and III., by Drs Watson and Thompson, may also be read with reference to a general acquaintance with the history of Europe during the period of their reigns, and to a knowledge of several events, which tended mate rially to change the relative situation and importance of the various states of Europe. Indeed, the political alliances and wars of these monarchs involve the interests of so many kingdoms, that their history displays the general to pics of the history of Europe till the year 1621, the period of the death of Philip 111.
Soon afterwards the French monarchy began to as sume such a rank, and to connect itself with so many states, that its history ought to be perused, as throwing more light on the general history of Europe than that of any other kingdom at this time. Harte's Life of Gustavus Adolphus, and Scheller's History of the Thirty Years' War, also illustrate, in some degree, the history and state of the north of Europe about the same period ; and bring down the narrative of events nearly to the age of Louis X1V. Voltaire's life of this monarch will conduct the reader to the period when, in consequence of the alliances formed by the English nation with various continental powers, the history of the world is strictly connected with that of our native laud.
IV. Under the 4th division of this article, we proposed to point out the order in which the history of particular countries may be read, so that they may be illustrative of one another. " Nature," as Mr. Gibbon justly observes, " has implanted in our breasts a lively impulse to extend the narrow span of our existence, by the•knowledge of the events that have happened on the soil which we inhabit, of the characters and actions of those men from whom our descent as individuals or as a people is probably derived. The same laudable emulation will prompt us to review and to enrich our common treasure of national glory; and those who are hest entitled to the esteem of posterity, are the most inclined to celebrate the merits of their ances tors. The history of Britain, therefore, naturally will and ought to claim our highest interest. Under the article BR: