MyLord：Ihaveconsideredformerly，withagooddealofattention，thesubjectonwhichyoucommandmetocommunicatemythoughtstoyou：andIpractisedinthosedays，asmuchasbusinessandpleasureallowedmetimetodo，therulesthatseemedtomenecessarytobeobservedinthestudyofhistory。Theywereverydifferentfromthosewhichwritersonthesamesubjecthaverecommended，andwhicharecommonlypractised。ButIconfesstoyourlordship，thatthisneithergavemethen，norhasgivenmesince，anydistrustofthem。Idonotaffectsingularity。Onthecontrary，Ithinkthataduedeferenceistobepaidtoreceivedopinions，andthataduecompliancewithreceivedcustomsistobeheld；thoughboththeoneandtheothershouldbe，whattheyoftenare，absurdorridiculous。Butthisservitudeisoutwardonly，andabridgesinnosortthelibertyofprivatejudgment。Theobligationsofsubmittingtoitlikewise，evenoutwardly，extendnofurtherthantothoseopinionsandcustomswhichcannotbeopposed，orfromwhichwecannotdeviatewithoutdoinghurt，orgivingoffencetosociety。Inallthesecasesourspeculationsoughttobefree：inallothercases，ourpracticemaybeso。
　　Withoutanyregard，therefore，totheopinionandpracticeevenofthelearnedworld，Iamverywillingtotellyoumine。But，asitishardtorecoverathreadofthoughtlongagolaidaside，andimpossibletoprovesomethings，andexplainothers，withouttheassistanceofmanybookswhichIhavenothere，yourlordshipmustbecontentwithsuchanimperfectsketch，asIamabletosendyouatpresentinthisletter。Themotivesthatcarrymentothestudyofhistoryaredeficient。Someintend，ifsuchastheymaybesaidtostudy，nothingmorethanamusement，andreadthelifeofAristidesorPhocion，ofEpaminondasorScipio，AlexanderorCaesar，justastheyplayagameatcards，orastheywouldreadthestoryofthesevenchampions。
　　Othersthereare，whosemotivetothisstudyisnothingbetter，andwhohavethefurtherdisadvantageofbecominganuisanceveryoftentosociety，inproportiontotheprogresstheymake。Theformerdonotimprovetheirreadingtoanygoodpurpose；thelatterpervertittoaverybadone，andgrowinimpertinenceastheyincreaseinlearning。IthinkIhaveknownmostofthefirstkindinEngland，andmostofthelastinFrance。ThepersonsImeanarethosewhoreadtotalk，toshineinconversation，andtoimposeincompany；whohavingfewideastovendoftheirowngrowth，storetheirmindswithcrudeunruminatedfactsandsentences；andhopetosupply，bybarememory，thewantofimaginationandjudgment。
　　Buttheseareinthetwolowestforms。ThenextIshallmentionareinonealittlehigher；intheformofthosewhogrowneitherwisernorbetterbystudythemselves，butwhoenableotherstostudywithgreaterease，andtopurposesmoreuseful；whomakefaircopiesoffoulmanuscripts，givethesignificationofhardwords，andtakeagreatdealofothergrammaticalpains。
　　Theobligationtothesemenwouldbegreatindeed，iftheywereingeneralabletodoanythingbetter，andsubmittedtothisdrudgeryforthesakeofthepublic：assomeofthem，itmustbeownedwithgratitude，havedone，butnotlater，Ithink，thanaboutthetimeoftheresurrectionofletters。
　　Whenworksofimportancearepressing，generalsthemselvesmaytakeupthepick-axeandthespade；butintheordinarycourseofthings，whenthatpressingnecessityisover，suchtoolsareleftinthehandsdestinedtousethem——thehandsofcommonsoldiersandpeasants。Iapprove，therefore，verymuchthedevotionofastudiousmanatChrist-church，whowasoverheardinhisoratoryenteringintoadetailwithGod，asdevoutpersonsareapttodo，and，amongstotherparticularthanksgivings，acknowledgingthedivinegoodnessinfurnishingtheworldwithmakersofdictionaries!Thesemencourtfame，aswellastheirbetters，bysuchmeansasGodhasgiventhemtoacquireit：andLittletonexertedallthegeniushehad，whenhemadeadictionary，thoughStephensdidnot。Theydeserveencouragement，however，whiletheycontinuetocompile，andneitheraffectwit，norpresumetoreason。
　　Thereisafourthclass，ofmuchlessusethanthese，butofmuchgreatername。Menofthefirstrankinlearning，andtowhomthewholetribeofscholarsbowwithreverence。AmanmustbeasindifferentasIamtocommoncensureorapprobation，toavowathoroughcontemptforthewholebusinessoftheselearnedlives；foralltheresearchesintoantiquity，forallthesystemsofchronologyandhistory，thatweowetotheimmenselaborsofaScaliger，aBochart，aPetavius，anUsher，andevenaMarsham。Thesamematerialsarecommontothemall；butthesematerialsarefew，andthereisamoralimpossibilitythattheyshouldeverhavemore。Theyhavecombinedtheseintoeveryformthatcanbegiventothem：theyhavesupposed，theyhaveguessed，theyhavejoineddisjointedpassagesofdifferentauthors，andbrokentraditionsofuncertainoriginals，ofvariouspeople，andofcenturiesremotefromoneanotheraswellasfromours。Inshort，thattheymightleavenolibertyuntaken，evenawildfantasticalsimilitudeofsoundshasservedtopropupasystem。Asthematerialstheyhavearefew，soaretheverybest，andsuchaspassforauthentic，extremelyprecarious；assomeoftheselearnedpersonsthemselvesconfess。
　　JuliusAfricanus，Eusebius，andGeorgethemonk，openedtheprincipalsourcesofallthisscience；buttheycorruptedthewaters。Theirpointofviewwastomakeprofanehistoryandchronologyagreewithsacred；thoughthelatterchronologyisveryfarfrombeingestablishedwiththeclearnessandcertaintynecessarytomakeitarule。Forthispurpose，theancientmonuments，thatthesewritersconveyedtoposterity，weredigestedbythemaccordingtothesystemtheyweretomaintain：andnoneofthesemonumentsweredelivereddownintheiroriginalform，andgenuinepurity。TheDynastiesofManetho，forinstance，arebrokentopiecesbyEusebius，andsuchfragmentsofthemassuitedhisdesign，arestuckintohiswork。Wehave，weknow，nomoreofthem。TheCodexAlexandrinusweowetoGeorgethemonk。Wehavenootherauthorityforit；andonecannotseewithoutamazementsuchamanasSirJohnMarsamundervaluingthisauthorityinonepage，andbuildinghissystemuponitinthenext。Heseemsevenbythelightnessofhisexpressions，ifIrememberwell，foritislongsinceIlookedintohiscanon，nottobemuchconcernedwhatfoundationhissystemhad，soheshowedhisskillinformingone，andinreducingtheimmenseantiquityoftheEgyptianswithinthelimitsoftheHebraiccalculation。Inshort，mylord，allthesesystemsaresomanyenchantedcastles；theyappeartobesomething，theyarenothingbutappearances：likethemtoo，dissolvethecharm，andtheyvanishfromthesight。Todissolvethecharm，wemustbeginatthebeginningofthem：
　　theexpressionmaybeodd，butitissignificant。Wemustexaminescrupulouslyandindifferentlythefoundationsonwhichtheylean：andwhenwefindtheseeitherfaintlyprobable，orgrosslyimprobable，itwouldbefoolishtoexpectanythingbetterinthesuperstructure。Thisscienceisoneofthosethatare“aliminesalutandae。“Todothusmuchmaybenecessary，thatgraveauthoritymaynotimposeonourignorance：todomore，wouldbetoassistthisveryauthorityinimposingfalsescienceuponus。IhadrathertaketheDariuswhomAlexanderconquered，forthesonofHystaspes，andmakeasmanyanachronismsasaJewishchronologer，thansacrificehalfmylifetocollectallthelearnedlumberthatfillstheheadofanantiquary。
　　ConcerningtheTrueUseandAdvantageoftheStudyofHistoryLetmesaysomethingofhistory，ingeneral，beforeIdescendintotheconsiderationofparticularpartsofit，orofthevariousmethodsofstudy，orofthedifferentviewsofthosethatapplythemselvestoit，asIhadbeguntodoinmyformerletter。
　　Theloveofhistoryseemsinseparablefromhumannature，becauseitseemsinseparablefromself-love。Thesameprincipleinthisinstancecarriesusforwardandbackward，tofutureandtopastages。Weimaginethatthethings，whichaffectus，mustaffectposterity：thissentimentrunsthroughmankind，fromCaesardowntotheparish-clerkinPope’sMiscellany。Wearefondofpreserving，asfarasitisinourfrailpower，thememoryofourownadventures，ofthoseofourowntime，andofthosethatprecededit。Rudeheapsofstoneshavebeenraised，andruderhymnshavebeencomposed，forthispurpose，bynationswhobadnotyettheuseofartsandletters。Togonofartherback，thetriumphsofOdinwerecelebratedinrunicsongs，andthefeatsofourBritishancestorswererecordedinthoseoftheirbards。ThesavagesofAmericahavethesamecustomatthisday：andlonghistoricalballadsoftheirhuntingsandtheirwarsaresungatalltheirfestivals。Thereisnoneedofsayinghowthispassiongrows，amongcivilisednations，inproportiontothemeansofgratifying。it。butletusobservethatthesameprincipleofnaturedirectsusasstrongly，andmoregenerallyaswellasmoreearly，toindulgeourowncuriosity，insteadofpreparingtogratifythatofothers。Thechildhearkenswithdelighttothetalesofhisnurse：helearnstoread，andhedevourswitheagernessfabulouslegendsandnovels：inriperyearsheapplieshimselftohistory，ortothatwhichhetakesforhistory，toauthorisedromance：and，eveninage，thedesireofknowingwhathashappenedtoothermen，yieldstothedesirealoneofrelatingwhathashappenedtoourselves。
　　Thushistory，trueorfalse，speakstoourpassionsalways。Whatpityisit，mylord，thateventhebestshouldspeaktoourunderstandingssoseldom？
　　Thatitdoesso，wehavenonetoblamebutourselves。Naturehasdoneherpart。Shehasopenedthisstudytoeverymanwhocanreadandthink：andwhatshehasmadethemostagreeable，reasoncainmakethemostuseful，applicationofourminds。Butifweconsultourreason，weshallbefarfromfollowingtheexamplesofourfellow-creatures，inthisasinmostothercases，whoaresoproudofbeingrational。Weshallneitherreadtosootheourindolence，nortogratifyourvanity：aslittleshallwecontentourselvestodrudgelikegrammariansandcritics，thatothersmaybeabletostudywithgreatereaseandprofit，likephilosophersandstatesmen；aslittleshallweaffecttheslendermeritofbecominggreatscholarsattheexpenseofgropingallourlivesinthedarkmazesofantiquity。Allthesemistakethetruedriftofstudy，andthetrueuseofhistory。Naturegaveuscuriositytoexcitetheindustryofourminds；butsheneverintendeditshouldbemadetheprincipal，muchlessthesoleobjectoftheirapplication。Thetrueandproperobjectofthisapplicationisaconstantimprovementinprivateandinpublicvirtue。
　　Anapplicationtoanystudythattendsneitherdirectlynorindirectlytomakeusbettermenandbettercitizens，isatbestbutaspeciousandingenioussortofidleness，touseanexpressionofTillotson：andtheknowledgeweacquirebyitisacreditablekindofignorance，nothingmore。Thiscreditablekindofignoranceis，inmyopinion，thewholebenefitwhichthegeneralityofmen，evenofthemostlearned，reapfromthestudyofhistory：andyetthestudyofhistoryseemstome，ofallother，themostpropertotrainusuptoprivateandpublicvirtue。
　　Yourlordshipmayverywellbereadybythistime，andaftersomuchboldcensureonmypart，toaskme，whatthenisthetrueuseofhistory？inwhatrespectsmayitservetomakeusbetterandwiser？andwhatmethodistobepursuedinthestudyofit，forattainingthesegreatends？IwillansweryoubyquotingwhatIhavereadsomewhereorother，inDionysiusHalicarn，Ithink，thathistoryisphilosophyteachingbyexamples。Weneedbuttocastoureyesontheworld，andweshallseethedailyforceofexample：
　　weneedbuttoturntheminward，andweshallsoondiscoverwhyexamplehasthisforce。“Pauciprudentia，“saysTacitus，“honestaabdeterioribus，utiliaabnoxiisdiscernunt：pluresaliorumeventisdocentur。“Suchistheimperfectionofhumanunderstanding，suchisthefrailtemperofourminds，thatabstractorgeneralpropositions，thougheversotrue，appearobscureordoubtfultousveryoften，tilltheyareexplainedbyexamples；
　　andthatthewisestlessonsinfavorofvirtuegobutalittlewaytoconvincethejudgment，anddeterminethewill，unlesstheyareenforcedbythesamemeans；andweareobligedtoapplytoourselveswhatweseehappentoothermen。Instructionsbyprecepthavethefurtherdisadvantageofcomingontheauthorityofothers，andfrequentlyrequirealongdeductionofreasoning。
　　“Hominesampliusoculis，quamauribus，credunt：longumiterestperpraecepta，breveetefficaxperexempla。“Thereasonofthisjudgment，whichIquotefromoneofSeneca’sepistlesinconfirmationofmyownopinion，rests，Ithink，onthis；thatwhenexamplesarepointedouttous，thereisakindofappeal，withwhichweareflattered，madetooursenses，aswellasourunderstandings。Theinstructioncomesthenuponourownauthority：
　　weframethepreceptafterourownexperience，andyieldtofactwhenweresistspeculation。Butthisisnottheonlyadvantageofinstructionbyexample；forexampleappealsnottoourunderstandingalone，buttoourpassionslikewise。Exampleassuagesthese，oranimatesthem；setspassiononthesideofjudgment，andmakesthewholemanofapiece；whichismorethanthestrongestreasoningandtheclearestdemonstrationcando：andthusforminghabitsbyrepetition，examplesecurestheobservanceofthosepreceptswhichexampleinsinuated。IsitnotPliny，mylord，whosays，thatthegentlest，heshouldhaveaddedthemosteffectual，wayofcommanding，isbyexample？“Mitiusjubeturexemplo。“Theharshestordersaresoftenedbyexample，andtyrannyitselfbecomespersuasive。Whatpityitisthatsofewprinceshavelearnedthiswayofcommanding!Butagain：theforceofexamplesisnotconfinedtothosealone，thatpassimmediatelyunderoursight：theexamples，thatmemorysuggests，havethesameeffectintheirdegree，andahabitofrecallingthemwillsoonproducethehabitofimitatingthem。Inthesameepistle，fromwhenceIcitedapassagejustnow，SenecasaysthatCleantheshadneverbecomesoperfectacopyofZeno，ifhehadnotpassedhislifewithhim；
　　thatPlato，Aristotle，andtheotherphilosophersofthatschool，profitedmorebytheexample，thanbythediscourseofSocrates。[Buthere，bytheway，Senecamistook；forSocratesdiedtwoyearsaccordingtosome，andfouryearsaccordingtoothers，beforethebirthofAristotle：andhismistakemightcomefromtheinaccuracyofthosewhocollectedforhim；asErasmusobserves，afterQuintilian，inhisjudgmentonSeneca。]Butbethis，whichwasscarceworthaparenthesis，asitwill；headdsthatMetrodorus，Hermachus，andPolyaenus，menofgreatnote，wereformedbylivingunderthesameroofwithEpicurus，notbyfrequentinghisschool。Theseareinstancesoftheforceofimmediateexample。ButyourlordshipknowsthatthecitizensofRomeplacedtheimagesoftheirancestorsinthevestibulesoftheirhouses；
　　sothat，whenevertheywentinorout，thesevenerablebustoesmettheireyes，andrecalledthegloriousactionsofthedead，tofiretheliving，toexcitethemtoimitateandeventoemulatetheirgreatforefathers。Thesuccessansweredthedesign。Thevirtueofonegenerationwastransfused，bythemagicofexample，intoseveral：andaspiritofheroismwasmaintainedthroughmanyagesofthatcommonwealth。Nowthesearesomanyinstancesoftheforceofremoteexample；andfromalltheseinstanceswemayconclude，thatexamplesofbothkindsarenecessary。