The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-11-17
From the Philadelphia Ledger
ALISON'S HISTORY.

We have heretofore noticed this work as the elab-
crate effort of an Englshman in defence Of the En-
glish aris,ocracy. We regard him as a thorough En-
glishman, who can see nothing commendable in any
institutions but those of his country, who consi
ders that country invariably right every quarrel
and who cordially hates Democracy, and feels i'm
PEELED by duty TO denounco it TO the odium and oppo-
siton Of all mankind. Entertaining this opinion of
him. which inspired by the very first nun Der Of
his history, published by the Harpers we were
prepared to receive his statements with some allow
We remembered SCOTS history Of Napoleon
and therefore were prepared for statements rather
consistent with the prejudices OF the English to-
res than with historical truth And we had read
British official accounts of battles between Amer
and Englishmen in our last war, and parliamentary
debates about negotiations between Britain and this
country and therefore we were prepared for misre
presentations about our own affairs. And we were
not disappointed. His work, so far this country
is concerned, better deserves the name of ROMANCE
than history. We have already published Mr. Coop.
es notice OF his misrepresentation concerning Cap
tain cambridge, and his quotation Of Cooper's Naval
History as authority for such misrepresentation.
newspaper distinguished for strong English pre-
objections, pronounces this history the nobest work
of the age. 1t says that this work is the result Of
twenty years Of perseverng labor requiring the care
ful and discriminating perusal Of nearly fifteen hun.
dred volumes in various languages, on the main and
collateral subjects Of the history and therefore that
1t is enduring monument Of patient and intelligent
industry says that the fullness accuracy and gen
eral impartslity Of the work are universally admit
ted that while the author was under strong politi-
cal and national bias against party in the great
struggle which he describes, yet by weighing all cir
cumstaDces, and guarding against the very preiudices
TO which he conscious Of being liable he has CON
triyed TO write " the most honest history Of that
memorable period As proof Of his desire to render
justice, this paper says that he quotes two Republ.
can writers for one royalist and two French for
ore English. IL admits that an execution to
! in fhe rha
country but II excuses this by SAYING that this
part Of his work was but an episode and that
the author had not devoted to il that study which he
had given to the principal subject Of his work II he
had devoted TO this episode much attention as to
the rest Of his narrative, his apologst believes that
he would not have been thus liable TO consure and
IT adds, as some atonement for this fault that the
Harpers, in their edition of the wors have added TO
the American chapter some notes and a copous in.
dex.
This, we suppose will pass current with some as
enlightened and candid criticism and through such
praises and excuses do the apologists of Alison al
tempt to procure for his work the reputation Of being
the most accurate and honest history produced in mo-
dern times Let us analyze this. lie undertakes IN
write history Of the most memorable period ON re-
cord. His very conception Of such an ENTERPRISE
proves that he perceived the magnitude Of his task
and knew that II required the most patient and exten
siye examination; and under this belief he carefully
reads fifteen hundred volumes in different languages
and spends twenty years IN preparing his work Nd
hitting all this, and we admit II fully, we say that
such an author cannot plead ignorance in excuse for
any inaccuracy or Misrepresentation All the facts
are before him, whether they are universally admit
ted, or are subjects of dispute by different writer's for
he carefully examines fifteen hundred volumes toll
learn those facts about which oil agrce and TO Judge
impartially between different opinions to reach The
truth concerning fac about which parties differ lie
- therefore master Of his subject he knows ALI ts
details he can strike The balances of authorities upon
any one OF them which has been subject of DISPUTE
If he err through ignorance, while The means nj
knowledge are within his reach he is almost as chi
pable as he would be by direct misrepresentation.
But as he has consulted oil the authorities on both
and all sides, or al least fifteen hundred of them
which are probably all, all worth consulting. we
"y that the plea OF ignorance for any error is uter,