New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-08-28
THE TRIBUNE.

INTRODUCTORY LECTURES ON MODERN HIS
TORY. BY THoNAs ARNOLD, Regus Professor o
History in the University of oxford. and Head Mas
Ter Of Rugby School Edited from The second Lon
don Edition with Preface ana Notes by Henry
Reed. NJ A. Professor Of English Literature IN To
University OF Pennsylvania u. Appleton & Go
New-YOrk lsil
Upon perusal here and there, we find these Lee
,u,es worthy Of their high repu,e unusual is the
,,;op Of candor with energy Of a widely ranging
and fair sight with vivaciiy. And the noble heart o
The writer lends the charm of private intercourse Ia
,eousntance with his book
Looking from our point of view, we find many
opinions far az we have read from which we
dissent, and views on matters of general concern
which we esteem, ct ii be said al the risk OF being
esteemed presump,uous,l singularly short sighted
But the mind is wholly in earnest no less generous
Of high attainment and OF that sort that constantly
pressing onward in its own way, tolerate other
men in theirs And this tolerance is not merely az
fecionate bat Intellectual discerning. 1t is amaz
ipg how rare such tolerance is-sO rare that are
Inclined to award to a man who possesses but this
one claim. the honors of greatness. Yet DR. Arnold
was not great but he combined generous soul
with mind at once ardent and patient
OF the maxms which guided him in his studies.
the following may serve as a sample:
some appear be unable 10 conceive Of belief or
unbeief except having some ulterior object - we
believe this, because love II we dsbelieve H. be
cause wish 1t TO be dsprOved" There il however
in minds more beautifully constituted. be.of and Dis
belief grounded solely upon the evidence Of The case
arising neither out of Partially o. prejudice
against the supposed conclusions which may result from
IL truth or alsehoOd"
Keep your view Of men and things extensive and
. .A q
far as II goes the views that il gives true
but he who reads deeply in class of writers only.
gets views which are almost to be perverted and
which not only but false. Adjust your pro
posed amount OF reading 10 your time aud Inclination
this Is perfectly free to every man. but whether that
amount be large small len be varied in its kind and
widely varied II have confident opinion any one
point connected with the Improvement of the human
mind. IL is on this
1T Is very hard thing 10 read at once passionaiey
and critically DIR though Professor and SchOOmas.
ter had not forgotten the noble meanings and uses Of
Passion by no means 10 be cold captiOu- sneerng. OF
scoffng 10 admire greatness and goodness with an in
snse love aud vcneratiOn. yet To Judge all things 10 be
The slave neither of names Of parties and 10 sacrifice
even The most beautiful for the sake OF truth
would say as agood general rule never read The wO X
Of any ordinary man. except scientific matters oi
when they contain simple matters Of fact Even sim
pie matters Of fact silly and ignorant men. however
honest and industrious ON their particular subject
qure be- read with waichfulness and suspi-
con whereas great always instructive. even
amidst much OF error particular points In general
however hold 1t 10 be certain that the truth is to be
found in the great and the error in the te ones
II we had not heard of DIR. Arnold as being prac
dcally successful teacher we must infer it from
these Lectures, where the lively sympathes OF
youth are combined with the iirmcr grasp and
seadier gaze of manhood He was admirably fitted
either TO stimulate or check, as the case might re
qure. the mind of the pupil. The book il such an
one as is much required in this country to furnish
suggestions as to the study of history the methods
proposed simple and searching. the standard
both 10 learning and Judgment high, the aims Of
universal interest X