Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-05
PREFACE DEDICAToRY.
To Mas. JAMES MADISON.

l Vh ADAM,
DO myself the Honor OF
requesting you to accept the dedication
OF this small volume OF Historical Let
terS, as proof of the estimation in
which I hold your intellectual sndow-
ments.
You will find that it is work of
compilation, and not one of invention.
History being the narrative ofwhat has
transplred in the world, the chief mer-
1t derived from writing ii consists in a
scrupulous adherence to the truth of
facts. But, at the same time, although
there is no scope in such perform
ance for the imagination, there isa great
deal to interest and occupy the mind |;
and to those who have not already made
the subjects ofittheir study, it presents
all the charms of the most engaging
novelty. The utmostefforts of human
genius can pourtray nothing more sur
prizing than the incidents which the
annals of the world furnish for our in
struction and amusement. The ina
ges Of fiction shrink before the more
substantial forms of real life.
| In the pursuits of philosophy, the
true mode of proceeding is from partic-
ulars to generals /; from the known to
the unknown. In The mathematics, too,
1t is essential that the incubation OF
particular rules should precede the
! knowledge of universal principles
But 1t appears TO me, that in history,
where the chief point to be regarded is
chronology, where the things to be re
cited are equally on record, and where
the understanding is not to be gradu-
| ally trained from simple to complex
and abstracts. combinations, that it Is
best, in the first instance, TO acquire &
general idea. BY this means we ma,
comprehend, with less difficulty, the re-
ferences which are necessarily made il
, the history of one people to the trans
actions of another and having traced
on our minds an accurate outline o
the occurrences of nations, fill up tn,
intervals with the details of particular
histories. If the opinion be correct
,, may Inothope that this little book ma,
. become current and useful in society
5 | As pocket companion, it may prov,
valuable remembrancer To those wht
t have already pored over the pages o
the writer's of antiquity and of modern
7 times, or stimulate such as are only su
Per6cialiy informed to further reading
4 No pains of research havebeen spar
ed m oh he.
topicks have been selected from tn
: history of each country as are most in
n teresting; and where there has bee
nothing in the policy or laws of com
munity to invite attention, ihave DIVE
upon geographical, commercial, or re
liglous circumstances. Whateverma
, be the omissions, it may be relied o
o that what is stated, is as authentic a
!, the received authorities can make il
n Reflections have been sparingly intro
duced: They should be rather excite
than expressed. Something ought a
waysto be left to exercise the mind {
: the reader. OF those that do occur,
5 part Of them are original /; others hay
: been drawn from Livy, SalIust, an
Z Tacitus some from Hume, from RI
3 bertson, and from Gibbon and SON
Z from French authors, more especial
lie Sage. Advantage has been take
r. Of the lights derivable from the con
IL mentators on the Egyptians, the Greek
re and the Asiatics, ancient and moderr
l. In relation to America, recourse hi
,e been had to all the compiIers common
h. ly known and respected in literature
in and by comparing them one with anc
:. Their. l have frequently arrived at a d
SC gree Of accuracy which no single OF
of them would have enabled rue to a
tain. Prejudice is the great vice
those who have written history. ar
- wherever it could be discerned it h
been discarded.
4. In performance Of this nature, n
- thing brilliant is to be expected fro
y an author. The histories of past tim
are built one upon another. ID
d. ferent arrangements Of words may re
tiiy or pervert the character of event
- but they cannot alter truth. Laneua
is the atmosphere of ideas, and it m
be clouded by dizziness or purified
at perspicuity yet the narrator of IA,