masterly

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Fragment of English History;" but he never is deficient in vivacity and variety: One source of both these excellencies may be found in the judicious practice of borrowing freely from the original writers and from the documents of the times, altering the expression only by discarding obscure, uncouth, and redundant words.

How striking is this short passage, in a speech of Edward the Fourth to his Parliament! "The injuries "that I have received are known everywhere, and the 66 eyes of the world are fixed upon me to see with what "countenance I suffer."

If actual events could often be related in this way, there would be more books in circulating libraries than romances and travels.

This lively and graphic style is plainly the best, though now and then the historian's criticism is wanted to support a startling fact, or to explain a confused transaction. Thus the learned Rudbeck, in his "Atlan "tica," ascribing an ancient temple in Sweden to one of Noah's sons, warily adds " 'twas probably the youngest.' You will, of course, hasten to study his book-it is only in four volumes folio.

I cannot help adding, that if you will read, with a pencil in your hand, more than one celebrated historian,

you will be surprised to find yourself marking so many grave observations, worthy of the cautious Swede.

There is one grand incident in our own annals; presenting the means of producing a work at least as interesting and instructive as any public story, ancient or modern. You know that I mean the establishment of American independence. Do I say too much in speaking of this as the principal event in all civil history?

Only think of the magnitude and the nature of the question at issue; of its consequence as an example; of the successful termination of the struggle; of the elevated and accomplished actors both in the United States and in England. The battle was as much fought at home as abroad; and some of the combatants were the King, Lord Chatham, Lord North, Mr. Burke, Mr. Fox, General Washington, Dr. Franklin, and Mr. Jefferson.— Think, too, of the Manifestoes, the Proclamations, the Declaration of Independence; and "last not least," of the Speeches, which would furnish abler and more authentic examples of eloquence than are found in Thucydides, Livy, or Tacitus. These dramatic documents have always been the allowed and admired ornaments of history.

One surprising instance, equally honourable to the

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speaker and to the assembly that bore it, is the famous exclamation of Lord Chatham,-"My Lords! I rejoice "that America has resisted." Do not forget that this man had been minister, and meant to be minister again.

Oh! how I shall regret if these random thoughts should add to your perplexities, instead of exciting you to burst through them! Not one syllable of our mountaintalk would I have recalled to your recollection, if you had not owned that you had yet to begin.

For my own gratification, I would much rather have your "Lectures" than "the History," but not so feel the public; to whom you have made a promise, or are thought to have made one.-A seat in the House of Commons, while it must improve your manner, by substituting the tone of business for that of dissertation, will, alas! encroach upon your leisure, and perhaps endanger your health.

When you come hither to restore the latter, pray bring all the papers that you can want, for the barn will hold what the cottage cannot.

TO A YOUNG MAN AT OXFORD.

London, May 17th, 1825.

YOUR mother tells me, that she approves of your going this summer to Ambleside, accompanied by some other students, to read with a tutor.

I have seen with much pleasure that it has of late become usual with the young mathematicians, hoping for "honours," to spend the vacation in this manner. Such a place of residence is even more suitable to those delighting in classical literature; for what can agree better than poetry with the woods and mountains? The bards are ever avowing their passion for the country, and you must have remarked the same in the finest prosewriters. Pliny owns, in a letter to Tacitus, that at Rome

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poemata quiescunt; quæ tu inter nemora et lucos com" modissimè perfici putas.” The following passages in the 9th and 10th Sections of the celebrated dialogue "de causis corruptæ eloquentiæ," leave little doubt as to its author, notwithstanding the long and learned disputes on the subject. "Adjice quod poetis, si modo

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dignum aliquid elaborare et efficere velint, relinquenda "conversatio amicorum et jucunditas urbis, in nemora et "lucos recedendum est.' "Nemora vero, et luci,

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"tantam mihi afferunt voluptatem, ut inter præcipuos "carminum fructus numerem, quod nec in strepitu, nec "sedente ante ostium litigatore, nec inter sordes ac lacry

mas reorum componuntur: sed secedit animus in loca pura atque innocentia, fruiturque sedibus sacris."

I hope you mean to be an indefatigable student, though you talk of visiting all the lakes.-Yet beware! it is pleasanter to sail about than to read at home. However, it will give me pleasure to learn that the hints which you request, have saved your time, and prevented needless fatigue.

The guides are not always to be trusted, for they naturally wish to keep you as long as they can; and, too often, they arrange the journey with a view to dine at the most comfortable, or the most grateful inn.

You will pass so near to the beautiful scenery of BOLTON ABBEY, that I advise you to employ one day, at least, in visiting the walks and drives made by the clergyman of the place.-Sit down on every seat in the valley of the Wharfe and in Posforth glen, whose brook falls into the river. The water-fall has much beauty.