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reason seems to abhor. In the view of t society, preliminary to the history of Cha penetrated that night of ignorance, barbar fusion which prevailed, for ages, in Europ and uncertain lights, he has travelled throu maze, and collected those scattered ray own sagacity alone could difcern, into permanent guide to future historians. He a mass of seemingly unmeaning rubbi and system, and laid a foundation for t Europe. If a Livy, or an Herodotus, or i the antient historians had reviewed this would have been amused with the warlik a mighty monarch, or some wonderful a chivalry, instead of an illustration of tho regard to laws, manners, or governmen fects are permanent, and continue still to the civil associations of Europe.

From the labours of Robertson, and French and English philosophers, we are contemplate the transactions of kingdoms enlarged views, and upon more fixed princ tions have now afsigned them their motives as well as human nature. Battles, and re kingdoms, are no longer considered on the count, as splendid scenes; their political co are now nicely traced; an all-prevailing theo

them to some great design, and sees them teeming with important effects upon succeeding ages.

Upon these rational and enlightened principles is the history of Charles v. conducted; a work perhaps the most comprehensive, original, and masterly of its kind. With it we may be satisfied to begin our enquiries into modern history; at least if we were to be satisfied with useful information. It has given stability to the theory of European politics, laid open the secrets of its government, and may be considered as the best model for all succeeding compositions of this kind.

The history of Philip II. his immediate successor, by Watson, upon the same plan, may be considered as a continuation of the above †. A work of very singular merit, and which possesses the principal qualities of historical composition in an eminent degree; but not being adorned with the glitter of what is called fine writing, and that ambitious elevation of sentiment which is now so prevalent, it has not been so much celebrated as it deserves. We fhall attempt to give a particular character of this history.

And in the first place we may observe that it is extremely happy in the subject. The succefsful struggles of liberty against despotic power; the increasing importance of the scene of action; the republic of Hol.land rising into high political consequence, by the persevering valour, and commercial activity of its in

This history is further continued by the same author, in a posthumous work, containing the reign of Philip 111. and is of the same character with the work under review. The two last books are written by another hand.

ther; the numerous difficulties which the the many unparalelled examples of her interested virtue which the ydisplay, an stratagems which they employ, all form and most instructive subjects for the pe to execute it with becoming dignity, is al most difficult tasks: the views of the ac often various, intricate, and remote; the tion, new, complicated, and diversified.

The subject, however, of itself, confers merit on the historian. His praise consists which he has taken of it, in its plan and e Unity ought to be the first study of every especially of an historian; though one wo that as what he relates is not at his disposa be impossible to give a uniform tendency, o design, to a series of actions which seem re sefs none but there is scarcely a period wh some relation among its parts, however of which a fkilful historian will take advant the want of it also, in some otherwise w histories, the subject of which afforded a lin the succefsion of facts, and a point to w might have been all made to lead, we mus that very much in this respect is in the pow historian. The antients, in general, have regard to unity of design, they are content most part, with giving a clear and elegant nar particular events, as they occur, seldom viewi

collectively, as terminating upon some important object, and illustrating a general and comprehensive theory. It wonderfully assists and delights the imagination to have some great and leading principle always in view, especially when it is of such a nature as to be perpetually improving, and rising to greater perfection. The progress of civilization, and the gradual advancement of the arts and sciences in modern times, is one great and general idea which connects the most remote with the latest periods of the history of the kingdoms of Europe. This consideration animates us to proceed in tracing the first efforts to emerge from barbarism; the light of fcience begins gradually to dawn, our views enlarge, and we are at last cheered with prospects of boundless effulgence.

But though this be the grand centre of the history of national events, and human transactions, it admits of many subdivisions, without, at the same time, making us lose sight of the great tendency of the whole. The particular views of one reign, or a series of reigns, in promoting, or abolishing a certain form of government, the consequences of civil and religious revolutions, and other momentuous incidents which give rise to a train of similar circumstances. The history of Philip 11. is remarkably happy in this respect. We have displayed before us one great and important reign; the monarch is influenced throughout the whole of it by the ambition of extending his conquests, deprefsing the protestant religion, and rendering his power absolute. These principles give birth to all the events of the history. To these we refer them, as to a common centre, and as a bond of union to all its scattered parts.

of Philip's arbitrary proceedings, the sub of events flow with a uniform tendency; above another in a natural succefsion, dual progrefs, to still more important a fcenes.

But though the reign and character of great idea by which we may be said to gr dy the numerous facts of this history, i clude many subordinate unities, which, pofsefs sufficient art and ability, will be as to give us a distinct and separate prosp confusion, or driving out of view the p features of the work. Το arrange seemi nected transactions under one great plar to each its proper place, and due proport tion is, without doubt, the most trying te torian's fkill. In this our author greatly ex the execution of it, in the present work, h proof of uncommon talents. No epick p served the unity of his plot better. The of action is in the Netherlands, where our long detained, and our feelings deeply en protracted and pleasing solicitude for the tions of liberty. From this noble theme, h are frequently led, and made to contemplat portant events, in the management of wh torian has fhewn so much addrefs, that we low him without reluctance. They are all introduced as never to embarass the great

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