songs of the bards are found the only accounts of the first ages of
every state; but in these we must naturally expect to find truth mixed
with fiction, and often disguised in allegory. In such early times,
before science has enlightened the minds of men, the people are ready to
believe every thing; and the historian, having no restraints from the
fear of contradiction or criticism, delivers the most improbable and
absurd tales as an account of the lives and actions of their
forefathers; thus the first heroes of every nation are gods, or the sons
of gods; and every great event is accompanied with some supernatural
agency. Homer, whom I have already mentioned, as a poet, you will find
the most agreeable historian of the early ages of Greece; and Virgil
will show you the supposed origin of the Carthaginians and Romans.
It will be necessary for you to observe some regular plan in your
historical studies, which can never be pursued with advantage otherwise
than in a continued series. I do not mean to confine you solely to that
kind of reading; on the contrary, I wish you frequently to relax with
poetry or some other amusement, whilst you are pursuing your course of
history; I only mean to warn you against mixing _ancient_ history with
_modern_, or _general_ histories of one place with _particular reigns_
in another; by which desultory manner of reading, many people distract
and confound their memories, and retain nothing to any purpose from such
a confused mass of materials.
The most ancient of all histories, you will read in your Bible: from
thence you will proceed to l'Histoire Ancienne of Rollin, who very
ingeniously points out the connection of profane with sacred history,
and enlivens his narrative with many agreeable and improving
reflections, and many very pleasing detached stories and anecdotes,
which may serve you as resting places in your journey. It would be an
useful exercise of your memory and judgment, to recount these
interesting passages to a friend, either by letter or in conversation;
not in the words of the author, but in your own natural style--by
memory, and not by book; and to add whatever remarks may occur to you. I
need not say that you will please me much, whenever you are disposed to
make this use of _me_.
The want of memory is a great discouragement in historical pursuits, and
is what every body complains of. Many artificial helps have been
invented, of which those who have tried them can best tell you the
effects; but the most natural and pleasant expedient is that of
conversation with a friend, who is acquainted with the history which you
are reading. By such conversations, you will find out how much is
usually retained of what is read, and you will learn to select those
characters and facts which are best worth preserving: for it is by
trying to remember every thing, without distinction, that young people
are so apt to lose every trace of what they read. By repeating to your
friend what you can recollect, you will fix it in your memory: and if
you should omit any striking particular, which ought to be retained,
that friend will remind you of it, and will direct your attention to it
on a second perusal. It is a good rule to cast your eye each day over
what you read the day before, and to look over the contents of every
book when you have finished it.
Rollin's work takes in a large compass: but, of all the ancient nations
it treats of, perhaps there are only the Grecians and Romans, whose
stories ought to be read with any anxious desire of retaining them
perfectly: for the rest, such as the Assyrians, Egyptians, &c., I
believe you would find, on examination, that most of those who are
supposed tolerably well read in history, remember no more than a few of
the most remarkable facts and characters. I tell you this, to prevent
your being discouraged on finding so little remain in your mind after
reading these less interesting parts of ancient history.
But, when you come to the Grecian and Roman[30] stories, I expect to
find you deeply interested and highly entertained; and, of consequence,
eager to treasure up in your memory those heroic actions and exalted
characters by which a young mind is naturally so much animated and
impressed. As Greece and Rome were distinguished as much for genius as
valour, and were the theatres, not only of the greatest military
actions, the noblest efforts of liberty and patriotism, but of the
highest perfection of arts and sciences, their immortal fame is a
subject of wonder and emulation, even to these distant ages; and it is
thought a shameful degree of ignorance, even in our sex, to be
unacquainted with the nature and revolutions of their governments, and
with the characters and stories of their most illustrious heroes.
Perhaps, when you are told that the government and the national
character of your own countrymen have been compared with those of the
Romans, it may not be an useless amusement, in reading the Roman
history, to carry this observation in your mind, and to examine how far
the parallel holds good. The French have been thought to resemble the
Athenians in their genius, though not in their love of liberty. These
little hints sometimes serve to awaken reflection and attention in young
readers--I leave you to make what use of them you please.
When you have got through Rollin, if you add _Vertot's Revolutions
Romaines_--a short and very entertaining work--you may be said to have
read as much as is _absolutely necessary_ of ancient history. Plutarch's
lives of famous Greeks and Romans--a book deservedly of the highest
reputation--can never be read to so much advantage as immediately after
the histories of Greece and Rome: I should even prefer reading each life
in Plutarch, immediately after the history of each particular hero, as
you meet with them in Rollin or in Vertot.
If hereafter you should choose to enlarge your plan, and should wish to
know more of any particular people or period than you find in Rollin,
the sources from which he drew may be open to you; for there are, I
believe, French or English translations of all the original historians,
from whom he extracted his materials.
Crevier's continuation of Rollin, I believe, gives the best account of
the Roman emperors down to Constantine. What shocking instances will you
there meet with, of the terrible effects of lawless power on the human
mind! How will you be amazed to see the most promising characters
changed by flattery and self-indulgence into monsters that disgrace
humanity! To read a series of such lives as those of Tiberius, Nero, or
Domitian, would be intolerable, were we not consoled by the view of
those excellent emperors, who remained uncorrupted through all
temptations. When the mind--disgusted, depressed, and terrified--turns
from the contemplation of those depths of vice, to which human nature
may be sunk, a Titus, the delight of mankind--a Trajan--an
Antoninus--restore it to an exulting sense of the dignity, to which
that nature may be exalted by virtue. Nothing is more awful than this
consideration: a human creature given up to vice is infinitely below the
most abject brute; the same creature, trained by virtue to the utmost
perfection of his nature, 'is but a little lower than the angels, and is
crowned with glory and immortality.'
Before you enter upon the modern history of any particular kingdom, it
will be proper to gain some idea of that interval between ancient and
modern times, which is justly called the dark and barbarous ages, and
which lasted from Constantine to Charlemagne--perhaps one might say to
some centuries after. On the irruption of the northern Barbarians, who
broke the Roman empire, and dissipated all the treasures of knowledge,
as well as of riches, which had been so long accumulating in that
enormous state, the European world may be said to have returned to a
second infancy; and the Monkish legends, which are the only records
preserved of the times in which they were written, are not less fabulous
than the tales of the demi-gods. I must profess myself ignorant how to
direct you to any distinct or amusing knowledge of the History of Europe
during this period[31]: some collect it from _Puffendorf's
Introduction_; some from _The Universal History_; and now, perhaps, with
more advantage and delight, from the first volume of _Robertson's
Charles the Fifth_, in which he traces the progress of civilization,
government, and arts, from the first settlements of the Barbarians; and
shows the foundation of the several states into which Europe is now
divided, and of those laws, customs, and politics, which prevail in this
quarter of the world.
In those dark ages, you will find no single character so interesting as
that of Mahomet; that bold impostor, who extended his usurped dominion
equally over the minds and properties of men, and propagated a new
religion, whilst he founded a new empire, over a large portion of the
globe. His life has been written by various hands.
When you come to the particular histories of the European states, your
own country seems to demand the precedence; and there is no part more
commodious to set out from, since you cannot learn the history of Great
Britain, without becoming in some degree acquainted with almost every
neighbouring nation, and without finding your curiosity excited to know
more of those with whom we are most connected.
By the amazing progress of navigation and commerce, within the last two
or three centuries, all parts of the world are now connected: the most
distant people are become well acquainted, who, for thousands of years,
never heard of one another's existence: we are still every day exploring
new regions; and every day see greater reason to expect that immense
countries may yet be discovered, and America no longer retain the name
of the _New World_. You may pass to every quarter of the earth, and find
yourself still in the British dominion: this island, in which we live,
is the least portion of it; and, if we were to adopt the style of
ancient conquerors, we might call it the throne, from which we rule the
world. To this boast we are better entitled than some of those who
formerly called themselves _Masters of the Globe_, as we possess an
empire of greater extent, and from the superior advantages of our
commerce, much greater power and riches: but we have now too many
rivals in dominion, to take upon us such haughty titles.
You cannot be said to know the history of that empire, of which you are
a subject, without knowing something of the East and West Indies, where
so great a part of it is situated: and you will find the accounts of the
discovery and conquest of America very entertaining, though you will be
shocked at the injustice and cruelty of its conquerors. But, with which
of the glorious conquerors of mankind must not humanity be shocked!
Ambition, the most remorseless of all passions, pursues its object by
all sorts of means: justice, mercy, truth, and every thing most sacred,
in vain oppose its progress! Alas, my dear, shall I venture to tell you,
that the history of the world is little else than a shocking account of
the wickedness and folly of the ambitious! The world has ever been, and,
I suppose, ever must be, governed and insulted by these aspiring
spirits: it has always, in greater or less degree, groaned under their
unjust usurpation.
But let not the horror of such a scene put a stop to your curiosity: it
is proper you should know mankind as they are: you must be acquainted
with the heroes of the earth, and perhaps you may be too well reconciled
to them: mankind have in general a strong bias in their favour; we see
them surrounded with pomp and splendour--every thing that relates to
them has an air of grandeur--and, whilst we admire their natural powers,
we are too apt to pardon the detestable abuse of them, to the injury and
ruin of the human race. We are dazzled with false glory, and willingly
give into the delusion; for mighty conquests, like great conflagrations,
have something of the sublime that pleases the imagination, though we
know, if we reflect at all, that the consequences of them are
devastation and misery.
The Western and Eastern world will present to you very different
prospects. In _America_, the first European conquerors found nature in
great simplicity; society still in its infancy; and consequently the
arts and sciences yet unknown: so that the facility with which they
overpowered these poor innocent people, was entirely owing to their
superior knowledge in the arts of destroying. They found the inhabitants
brave enthusiastic patriots, but without either the military or
political arts necessary for their defence. The two great kingdoms of
Mexico and Peru had alone made some progress in civilization; they were
both formed into regular states, and had gained some order and
discipline: from these therefore the Spaniards met with something like
an opposition. At first indeed the invaders appeared supernatural
beings, who came upon them flying over the ocean, on the wings of the
wind, and who, mounted on fiery animals, unknown in that country,
attacked them with thunder and lightning in their hands; for such the
fire-arms of the Spaniards appeared to this astonished people. But from
being worshipped as gods, they soon came to be feared as evil spirits;
and in time being discovered to be men--different from the Americans
only in their outrageous injustice, and in the cruel arts of
destroying--they were abhorred and boldly opposed. The resistance
however of a million of these poor naked people, desperately crowding on
each other to destruction, served only to make their ruin more complete.
The Europeans have destroyed, with the most shocking barbarity, many
millions of the original inhabitants of these countries, and have ever
since been depopulating Europe and Africa to supply their places.
Though our own countrymen have no reason to boast of the justice and
humanity of their proceedings in America, yet, in comparison with those
of the Spaniards, our possessions there were innocently acquired. Some
of them gained by conquest, or cession, from Spain and from other
European powers; some by contract with the natives, or by settlements on
uninhabited lands[32]. We are now possessed of a series of colonies,
extending above two thousand miles along the whole Eastern coast of
North-America, besides many islands of immense value. These countries,
instead of being thinly peopled by a few hordes of ignorant savages, are
now adorned with many great cities, and innumerable rich plantations,
which have made ample returns to their mother-country, for the dangers
and expenses which attended their first establishment. Blessed with more
natural advantages than almost any country in the world, they are making
a swift progress in wealth and grandeur, and seem likely, in some future
period, to be as much the seat of empire and of science as Europe is at
present. Whether their attainments in virtue and happiness will keep
pace with their advancement in knowledge, wealth, and power, is much to
be questioned; for you will observe in your historical view of the
several great empires of the world, that as each grew up towards the
highest pitch of greatness, the seeds of destruction grew up with it;
luxury and vice, by debasing the minds, and enervating the bodies of the
people, left them all, in their turns, an easy prey to poorer and more
valiant nations.
In the East, the Europeans introduced themselves in a milder way;
admitted first as traders--and, for the more commodious carrying on
their commerce, indulged by the powers of the country in establishing a
few small factories--they, by gentle degrees, extended and strengthened
their settlements there, till their force became considerable enough to
be thought an useful auxiliary to contending princes; and, as it has
often happened to those who have called in foreign powers to interfere
in their domestic contentions, by availing themselves of the
disturbances of a dismembered monarchy, they at length raised a power
almost independent of their employers. Soon, the several European
nations, who had thus got footing in the Indies, jealous of each other's
growing greatness, made the feuds of the native princes subservient to
their mutual contests; till within a few years, the English, by a happy
concurrence of circumstances, obtained the mastery, and expelled their
rivals from all their considerable settlements.
The rapidity of our conquests here has been perhaps equal to that of the
first invaders of America--but from different causes. Here we found an
old-established empire advanced to its crisis; the magnificence and
luxury of the great carried to the highest excess, and the people in a
proportionable degree of oppression and debasement. Thus ripe for
destruction, the rivalship of the viceroys, from the weakness of the
government, become independent sovereigns; and the dastardly spirit of
the meaner people, indifferent to the cause for which they were
compelled to fight, encouraged these ambitious merchants to push their
advantages further than they could at first have supposed possible: with
astonishment they saw the intrepid leaders of a few hundreds of brave
free Britons, boldly oppose and repeatedly put to flight millions of
these effeminate Indian slaves; and, in a short time, raised for them an
empire much larger than their mother-country.
From these remote quarters of the world, let us now return to Great
Britain, with the history of which you ought certainly to acquaint
yourself, before you enter upon that of any other European kingdom. If
you have courage and industry enough to begin so high as the invasion of
Julius Caesar--before which nothing is known of the inhabitants of this
island--you may set out with Rapin, and proceed with him to William the
Conqueror. From this era there are other histories of England more
entertaining than his, though I believe none esteemed more authentic.
Party so strongly influences both historians and their readers, that it
is a difficult and invidious task to point out the _best_ amongst the
number of English histories that offer themselves: but, as _you_ will
not read with a critical view, nor enter deeply into politics, I think
you may be allowed to choose that which is most entertaining; and, in
this view, I believe the general voice will direct you to Hume, though
he goes no further than the Revolution. Among other _historians_, do not
forget my darling _Shakspeare_--a faithful as well as a most agreeable
one--whose historical plays, if read in a series, will fix in your
memory the reigns he has chosen, more durable than any other history.
You need not fear his leading you into any material mistakes, for he
keeps surprisingly close to the truth, as well in the characters as in
the events. One cannot but wish he had given us a play on the reign of
every English king; as it would have been the pleasantest, and perhaps
the most useful, way of becoming acquainted with it.
For the other portion of Great Britain, Robertson's History of Scotland
is a delightful work, and of a moderate size.
Next to your own country, _France_ will be the most interesting object
of your inquiries; our ancient possessions in that country, and the
frequent contests we have been engaged in with its inhabitants, connect
their history with our own. The extent of their dominion and
influence--their supposed superiority in elegance and politeness--their
eminence in the Arts and Sciences--and that intercourse of thought, if
so I may call it, which subsists between us, by the mutual communication
of literary productions--make them peculiarly interesting to us; and we
cannot but find our curiosity excited to know their story, and to be
intimately acquainted with the character, genius, and sentiments of this
nation.
I do not know of any general history of France, that will answer your
purpose, except that of _Mezerai_, which even in the abridgment is a
pretty large work: there is a very modern one by _Velly and others_,
which perhaps may be more lively, but is still more voluminous, and not
yet completed. From Mezerai you may proceed with Voltaire to the end of
the reign of Louis the Fourteenth.
In considering the rest of Europe, your curiosity may be confined within
narrower limits. Modern history is, from the nature of it, much more
minute and laborious than the ancient; and to pursue that of so many
various kingdoms and governments, would be a task unequal to your
leisure and abilities, at least for several years to come; at the same
time, it must be owned, that the present system of politics and commerce
has formed such a relation between the different powers of Europe, that
they are in a manner members of one great body, and a total ignorance of
any considerable state would throw an obscurity even upon the affairs
of your own country[33]; an acquaintance however with the most
remarkable circumstances that distinguish the principal governments,
will sufficiently enlighten you, and will enable you to comprehend
whatever relates to them, in the histories with which you are more
familiar. Instead of referring you for this purpose to dull and
uninteresting abridgments, I choose rather to point out to you a few
small Tracts, which exhibit striking and lively pictures, not easily
effaced from the memory, of the constitutions and the most remarkable
transactions of several of these nations. Such are
Sir William Temple's Essay on the United Provinces.
His Essay on Heroic Virtue, which contains some account of
the Saracen Empire.
Vertot's Revolutions de Suede.
Vertot's Revolutions de Portugal.
Voltaire's Charles XII. de Suede.
Voltaire's Pierre le Grand.
Puffendorf's Account of the Popes, in his Introduction to
Modern History.
Some part of the History of Germany and Spain, you will see more in
detail in Robertson's History of Charles the Vth, which I have already
recommended to you in another view.
After all this, you may still be at a loss for the transactions of
Europe, in the last fifty years: for the purpose of giving you, in a
very small compass, some idea of the state of affairs during that
period, I will venture to recommend one book more--_Campbell's State of
Europe_[34].
Thus much may suffice for that moderate scheme, which I think is best
suited to your sex and age. There are several excellent histories, and
memoirs of particular reigns and periods, which I have taken no notice
of in this circumscribed plan; but with which, if you should happen to
have a taste for the study, you will hereafter choose to be acquainted:
these will be read with most advantage after you have gained some
general view of history; and they will then serve to refresh your
memory, and settle your ideas distinctly; as well as enable you to
compare different accounts of the persons and facts which they treat of,
and to form your opinions of them on just grounds.
As I cannot, with certainty, foresee what degree of application or
genius for such pursuits you will be mistress of, I shall leave
deficiencies of this collection to be supplied by the suggestions of
your more informed friends; who, if you explain to them how far you wish
to extend your knowledge, will direct you to the proper books.
But if, instead of an eager desire for this kind of knowledge, you
should happen to feel that distaste for it, which is too common in young
ladies who have been indulged in reading only works of mere amusement,
you will perhaps rather think that I want mercy in offering you so large
a plan, than that there needs an apology for the deficiencies of it:
but, comfort yourself with the assurance, that a taste for history will
grow and improve by reading; that, as you get acquainted with one period
or nation, your curiosity cannot fail to be awakened for what concerns
those immediately connected with it: and thus you will insensibly be led
on from one degree of knowledge to another.