St. Mary's beacon., 1858-09-16
SELECTED MIsCLLANEY.
Froia The Sunday Times.
George Danczoft.


ss'IAis strange. eventftl history. As YOU
AfxH Il.
There aFe two methods Of writing history;
uNp 4hAA pf the annalist who reg;stcs every
HNNu6 kFlfl acfnpuous fidelity, ouiitting no cir
AIiccs that can possibly throw light ON
TIE characters or actions Of ais subjects; who
adorns bis theme with picturesqueI:: and earned
descripti0ns. and paints in glowing colors The
1eanners of the times, ~ well as the individual
etaits cf his percentages; who decuratcs his page,
Sesrhance, with all the graces of style, aud
nsakes himself Eamosis from his eloquent and an
inatssl cuFBpsitios., his simple and picturesque,
oK, it may be. his rich aud ornate language; but
c0h6nes hinlselfto description and narration;
Who neither secks to account for wondrons
deesis nor pry into the secret springs of char
Meaef nor ~ deduce lessons from the reraarka-
Vie events he chronicles. The other method is
that Of the man who either writes with an aim.
10 magnify character, 10 defend q revolution.
uphold . party, or 20 damn with everlasting
iafany sane opponent; or who at least has
Rsttled convictions, and Ends it impossible or
undesirable not te indicate them ia his writings
dc considers history 30 5e philosophy teaching
By ex1fnple. asd believes it ko be the province
Of the historian TO expound her lessons. He
affects no blindness 10 faults oF merits, and
though he strives 10 he and hcliexes himself
easnikg gstnz. praise
aud blame. lie a.as not hold the scales and
leave it - others to declare the result; he does
not sum up the gOod or bad in character, and
neglect 10 announce the conclusion. lie pro-
nounceS judgement on the various individuals
who pass ia review before him; he docs more;
he traces the results Of events. he follows the
consequences Of certain actions and pDints
them out rs = warning or n beacon to man.
kind. He deduccs opinions from his studies.
and upholds them by arguments drawn from
those studies. He also searches out the causes
of the nIoSI1s;stous occurrences whose history
he naTrates; lac seeks in the great principles Of
nature, in the fundamental characteristics of
raan aud his Maker, the reasons for many cir
6nnistances that appear un.ccountable. One
relates faithfully, bat rcfrains from hiaSing the
cpiaien of his realiers except SO Ear rs facts
tnay have An influence; the other openly places
facts in such position that they shall naiu-
tain bis views. One Sifts, and balances, and
measures the other is often an advocate rather
than Judge, and always an exccutioncr. This
sne Is content with the painters skill and the
artists fame; that one seeks also to convince
M1d persuade, and would fain be recognised
as teacher and philosopher as well az an
mnnalist; the fnrHnef spreads cut a recital OF
facts; the latter dives into the reccsscs of
sIpiniJu. Que i also clear, uncontrovcrsial
and allows eveEy fensisf to determine fur him
self, the ether Il 40 oltsn heated and unfair
Gums up Tx one side, and alas sometimes dis
turts aud ennceals The truth, to make it seem
60 warrant hts conclusions. Yet the former
whan Enost excellent in his sphere, must al
Trays be content with lower rank than that
sssigncd to the profound and eloquent philoso-
rher who not only sets before mankind the
course Of events, but is also able to expound
ahcir causes and point cut their effects.
AmeEica has furnished brilliant example
gf success in each Of these departments. One
che elegant and learned scholar WHO has given
the world such fascinating narratives Of life in
tho middle ages, and such lively, picturesque
descriptions Of those rOEnatic times in Ameri-
can history when the conquest Of barbasie
IN MAS twice accomplished by q handful
European chivalry. Another, the profound
Ainker, and eloquent writer, who first has re-
lated wortAily % HE celintrymen the progress
aive riss Of the modern republic; who. with
snetrating vision, has detected IN slight cir
Autnstancsm the source Of mighty torrent of
events who has grouped into symmetrical and
hannaniOus positions the growing colonies,
and shown the consentaneoas development of
principles and sentiments. Of national charac-
tlx and embryo power. resulting, at last, in the
eaifcc Of empire whose domain stops not with
the shore, nor IS bounded by the elements, but
rsnches across The continents and beneath the
|ens.
4 Ms. nazcrcfl 4 wsrk i the great American
Elamics ita tlseinl - finest that could at this
nlnRssnk essgAKe - STUDENT or the philosopher.
Ahe aaRN 0t antiquity and the provinces Of
1i1deFn dosninivn haze ali furnished worthy
thIress q slle contelnplation Of the learned !;
auE Nc noller study can be imagined than the
lEo1len sacrded b America. 'Tis tritc be-
s0ee - Gsten handled hy the inconnpctert,
8 when elevated 70 its pruper dignity, and
ezlE1 bF psee sho he's 6ttsd himself f0r his
klak ~ iens aud ardnnas research, by pro-
h,1nd contemplation and lns extensive inter-
ryusse wits affairs; whasI sieSca from the lofty
standpoint assuaaed hs Mf. Bancroft. and
then VI naaliy Diseased, With such ar.or and
nilnslsd isnfnKtiality, the proportions az the
Seems prg neyelnpea - theiF rrue grandeur, |
Nld cssnsinee nsss Ghss tres coaaa snv ever
1Hses4Fsg4 ty ksstcsaa. 4