frequently defy the utmost exertion of reason, philosophy and length of time to loosen. For ourselves, we incline to the opinion of Degory Wheare and Volney, that history should be little studied till mature years and a previous acquaintance with many of the sciences,-geography, natural philosophy, mathematics, and so forth,-shall have prepared the mind to think for itself and to understand what is read.

Great danger is to be apprehended from indiscriminate reading. Those who devour with an anaconda voracity whatever falls in their way, will derive no advantage therefrom, but will acquire habits of inattention, such as will prevent them from ever using the rude mass of knowledge which they may accumulate. We admire the strain of the following remarks of St. John. Some,' says he, in speaking of histories,' are to be read, some are to be studied; and some may be neglected entirely, not only without detriment, but with advantage. Some are the proper object of one man's curiosity, some of another's and some of all men's; but all history is not an object of curiosity for any man. He who improperly, wantonly, and absurdly makes it so, indulges a sort of canine appetite: the curiosity of one, like the hunger of the other, devours ravenously and without distinction whatever falls in its way, but neither of them digests.'

There is a system and an order to be observed. More general histories are to be first taken up, and those especially which relate to one's own country, for in that the student feels most interest. The attention to others becomes a matter of course, and in degree according to their connexion and attitude as respects his own; the study of one begets a passion for another, and each step encourages to greater exertion and more daring enterprise. The intellectual appetite is to be dieted according to its strength and character; fare corresponding to the state of reading is to be set before it; it should be sometimes whetted by provocations, but never disgusted by that which is unseasonable or offensive.

But where shall we obtain proper histories for our youth? We have few or none of sterling merit written with a particular view to our institutions, religion and government. We put into the hands of the enquirer works for the most part inimical to our form of government, which embrace every opportunity to indulge in flings and sneers against it, and which never view its principles impartially. We cannot expect from them any

thing else, for their doctrines will be accommodated to that system in which their authors have been taught to repose belief; at least these will not write history in reference to other institutions than their own. This natural and we may add excusable prejudice belongs to every writer of annals; and, indeed, we should be exceeding loth to adopt the conclusions of any one so situated who should not be influenced by it. A deference is due to public opinion when it is fairly ascertained.

The deficiency of which we speak in our own country is becoming more and more evident. It has given birth to a trait in our national character, which is the most odious in the sight of foreigners; we mean, our vanity. Our system works well, and, contrasted with the despotisms of Europe, it is a source of continued satisfaction; but we have no work which has fully developed its admirable qualities, and we therefore become, each and all, expounders of them. The habit is growing upon us and has already taken deep root. In the absence of such a history, it may be pardonable indeed, but our notions are likely to be crude and extravagant and capable of much injury to us, in the estimation of those even who have sufficient Hberality of feeling to trace them to their right source.

It is not our own history only, but that of the whole human race, which is to be written in accordance with the principles here unfolded and established. The accomplishment of such a great work would be most propitious. It would be the nucleus of a distinct national literature. It would at once give us an original national character. The successful completion of such an universal history, would place us on equal terms with our opponents; we should have it in our power to dispute every inch of ground, for in it would be marked the true effect of every event, wherein it was adverse, and wherein auspicious to the great cause of political rights; we should no longer see through a glass darkly. The existence of such a work would materially assist in improving our system and in correcting the faults of our age. Nulla aetas vacavit à culpa. Democracies must not be hid under a bushel; they require the broad light of day. They are perfectible inasmuch as they contemplate the well-being of the people, who will discover their interest, and exercise their power accordingly. Our history would give us a starting point, and, founded in the broad principle that all men are born free and equal,' would present our past experience with its errors on this subject, so that we might avoid them.

Such a work was projected, and we believe in part completed by Dr. Ramsay, but his tragical death put an end to all his designs. No one else to our knowledge has undertaken the task; and a fearful and responsible one it is. The individual who engages in it must have an intimate acquaintance with the genius and economy of our institutions, a sagacity to detect their influence upon the social, moral, and political condition of man, a profound and extensive erudition, and talents of the first order. He must be deeply imbued with the spirit of the age,- -rather in advance than behind it; yet he must admit no fact on doubtful authority nor make any fact bend to his theories. He must have every quality required în the best historians, and some in addition; he must be not only an enquirer after truth, an efficient advocate in vindicating it, an artist and a man, but he must be practically a republican. His work too must be different from anything that has yet been written.

The value of such a work to the student of history would be incalculable. The observation of Cicero,-nescire quod antea quam natus sis acciderit, id est semper esse puerum,-is most true; but past experience may be improperly studied; it may be connected with much that is poisonous, which the unskilled cannot detect. An especial duty devolves upon us, as members of a free state; we require a correct knowledge of the past as to the great political and civil rights of man. The decline into despotism is insensible and rapid; the ascent to freedom, when once lost, is on the other hand slow, difficult and costly. Corrupt ambition is indigenous under all forms of government, but grows perhaps most luxuriantly in democracies. It is a rank weed, to be kept down by unremitted care and exertion. How strong, then, the necessity that proper histories should be placed in the hands of the student, whether boy or adult! Besides, how proper it is that we should understand ourselves, when our example is felt in almost every quarter of the globe! France is regenerated, England is shaking off hoary abuse, Spain and Portugal are struggling with an apparent probability of success for improved political institutions-who can doubt that the successful experiment here has produced these efforts for freedom?

The selection of proper works is the more important, in that the time which can be allotted to the study of history is very short compared with the immensity of the materials, and

that we have little opportunity to unlearn what is improper, and to supply its place by new studies. In the few hints which we have ventured to offer on this subject, we have had it in view to aid the student in so directing his researches that he may acquire, with the least possible labor, a valuable store of historical information:-the value being determined in this case, not so much by the bulk and extension as by the capacity of being applied to the existing state of things. History is a practical science, and of importance only so far as it can be used. It takes cognizance of the highest privileges of civilized beings, and so far as it assists us in defining them, is of the greatest value. We must then calculate its worth according to its practical application.

The preceding remarks have been partly induced by the conviction, that the taste of the age is undergoing a salutary change in regard to reading. The prevailing disposition to consult utility has been long and widely insisted upon, but we doubt if it has ever been so strongly marked as at present. The public have been so long deluged with a flood of worthless trash in the shape of novels, that they begin at last to look upon them with nausea and disgust. The preeminent talents of Sir Walter Scott redeemed this species of writing from the insipidity into which it had fallen. His example has excited a host of imitators, who have followed him,-with few exceptions and these longo intervallo,-with very indifferent success. The load has now become intolerable. We hail the appearance of Family Libraries,' 'Cyclopedias,' and 'Cabinets' of knowledge, with the highest gratification, as evidences of a more healthy state of the public mind. The degree of patronage which these collections are receiving, warrants us in the belief that the principle of improvement is universally active.

We are pleased to see that historical works constitute so large a portion of these publications. It is a bright and encouraging omen; it manifests an increasing solicitude for political knowledge and an anxious regard for political rights and privileges. It is a heart-stirring prospect for the lover of humanity-for all who desire the well-being of man. We are to study diligently how this spirit may be best directed, and its effects rendered lasting. We have contributed our mite fearfully; for we are aware that it may often require the labor of several generations to eradicate a single well-established error.

ART III.-Roman Literature.

1. Bibliotheca Classica Latina, sive Collectio Auctorum Classicorum Latinorum, cum Notis et Indicibus. ris. 1832.

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2. Family Classical Library, No. 47. London. 1833.

THE age in which we live is often described as an age of intellect; nor is this a misapplied denomination :—it is one which is forcibly borne out by the signs of the times. Among the most prominent and convincing of these signs, may be mentioned the extraordinary and resistless impulse given to the human mind by the diffusion of education.

In these latter days, we defer not to our brother man because he possesses title or territorial influence; we defer to his reason alone, and on this exclusive ground, that his reason is cultivated. This is indeed a proud distinction, and without any prejudice to other operative sources, we may fairly trace one of its principal causes to the daily extending progress of sound classical information.

The era is for ever gone by, when a taste for ancient literature, the fount from which so much instruction and delight circulate throughout the world,-was to be imbibed only in the purlieus of monastic seclusion, or in the society of wrangling gownsmen. Classical knowledge generally, and particularly Latin classical knowledge, the subject with which we are now more especially concerned, is not only widely scattered abroad, but is also preeminently influential. This is a fact which we regard with peculiar complacency, since it so happily solves the long contested point, as to the practical tendency and use of classical learning in the common intercourse of life.

We rejoice that this question, so variously and keenly discussed, admits of such full and satisfactory demonstration.

The great and justly earned popularity of the works mentioned at the head of this article, inay be referred to in support of the conclusion, that classical literature has become an object of current and unlimited favor. The abundance and undisputed success of similar labors, impart still further weight to this inference.

In directing our notice to the voluminous but judiciously VOL. XXXIX.—No. 84.

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