The "History of Scotland," the only one of his works which approaches the perfect plan of a history, is the best of his productions, the most interesting, and the most naturally written. Although he asserts that he was ten years engaged on it, the size of the work would hardly seem to require so much labor. It hardly exceeds nine hundred pages octavo, and in order to swell it to two volumes he was obliged to add, afterwards, by a few months' labor, a large body of notes. He was always fond of referring to many authorities, and was careful in his researches; yet he seldom discovered any new facts and does little more than relate gracefully the more interesting portions of a well-known narrative.-LAWRENCE, EUGENE, 1855, The Lives of the British Historians, vol. I, p. 360.

In the following year, the reading public-especially the literary men of London-were electrified by the appearance of "A History of Scotland" from this unknown minister's pen. Dealing with the reigns of Mary Stuart and her son, down to the accession of the latter to the English throne, he described, in pure, pathetic, and dignified language, the sorrows of that wretched Scotchwoman with a French soul, who saw so little of Holyrood and so much of English jails. He stands midway between those who believe her to have been a beautiful martyr, and those who brand her as a beautiful criminal. Agreeing with all writers as to the great loveliness of this beheaded Scottish queen, he considers that the intensity and long continuance of the sorrows, darkening over her whole life until the bloody catastrophe of Fotheringay, have blinded us to her faults, and that we therefore "approve of our tears, as if they were shed for a person who had attained much nearer to pure virtue."COLLIER, WILLIAM FRANCIS, 1861, A History of English Literature, p. 330.

Notwithstanding the immense materials which have been brought to light since the time of Robertson, his "History of Scotland" is still vauable; because he possessed a grasp of mind which enabled him to embrace general views, that escape ordinary compilers, however industrious they may be.--BUCKLE, HENRY THOMAS, 1862 66, History of Civilization in England, vol. III, ch. I, note.

Hume criticised some peculiarities of

Robertson's vocabulary. But, after all deductions, the purity of Robertson's English cannot be seriously impugned. He modelled his style upon Swift, after exhaustively studying that of Livy and Tactius. By way of practice in the writing of English he had, long before the appearance of his "History," prepared a translation of Marcus Aurelius, the manuscript of which belonged to Lord Brougham. Later and more exhaustive methods of research have deprived Robertson's "History" of most of its historical value. But its sobriety, fairness, and literary character give it a permanent interest to a student of the evolution of historical composition. SECCOMBE, THOMAS, 1896, Dictionary of National Biography, vol. XLVIII, p. 426.

CHARLES V. 1769

I got yesterday from Strahan about thirty sheets of your history to be sent over to Suard. To say only that they are very well written is by far too faint an expression, and much inferior to the sentiments I feel: they are composed with nobleness, with dignity, with elegance, and with judgment to which there are few equals. They even excel, and, I think, in a sensible degree, your "History of Scotland." I propose to myself great pleasure in being the only man in England during some months who will be in the situation of doing you justice, after which you may certainly expect that my voice will be drowned in that of the public.-HUME, DAVID, 1769, Letter to Dr. Robertson.

I think that the historian of Mary, Queen of Scots, cannot fail to do justice to any great subject. Go on,

dear sir, to enrich the English language with more traits of modern history.LYTTELTON, LORD, 1769, Letter to Dr. Robertson.

Robertson is your Livy; his "Charles V." is written with truth.-VOLTAIRE, FRANÇOIS MARIE AROUET, 1778? Martin Sherlock's Letters from an English Traveller.

Finished the 1st vol. of Robertson's "Charles the Fifth," obeying the references to proofs and illustrations. I am confounded at the immense researches which furnished material for this preliminary volume.-GREEN, THOMAS, 17791810, Diary of a Lover of Literature.

Robertson, if he had applied to Monsieur Gerard of Brussels, keeper of the archives, and many other persons in the Austrian Netherlands, might have procured documents and information which would have rendered the "History of Italy" something more than a bare splendid relation of facts already known to every common historical reader.—THICKNESSE, PHILIP, 1792? Journey through the Austrian Netherlands, vol. III, p. 53.

In no part of Dr. Robertson's works has he displayed more remarkably than in this introductory volume, his patience in research; his penetration and good sense in selecting his information; or that comprehension of mind, which, without being misled by system, can combine with distinctness and taste the dry and scattered details of ancient monuments. In truth, this dissertation, under the unassuming title of an Introduction to the "History of Charles V." may be regarded as an introduction to the History of Modern Europe. It is invaluable, in this respect, to the historical student; and it suggests, in every page, matter of speculation to the politician and the philosopher. STEWART, DUGALD, 1796-1801, Account of the Life and Writings of William Robertson.

The subject of private warfare is treated so exactly and perspicuously by Robertson, that I should only waste the reader's time by dwelling so long upon it as its extent and importance would otherwise demand. Few leading passages in the monuments of the middle ages, relative to this subject, have escaped the penetrating eye of that historian; and they are arranged so well as to form a comprehensive treatise in small compass.-HALLAM, HENRY, 1818-48, View of the State of Europe During the Middle Ages, ch. II, pt. II, note.

Robertson's State of Europe in his "Charles the Fifth" is another of my great favourites; it contains an epitome of information. Such works . . . are the railroads to learning.-BYRON, LORD, 1823-34, Countess of Blessington's Conversations with Byron.

Robertson received four thousand and five hundred pounds for the "History of Charles V. ;" and it is no disrespect to the memory of Robertson to say that the

"History of Charles V." is both a less valuable and a less amusing book than the "Lives of the Poets." MACAULAY, THOMAS BABINGTON, 1843, Samuel Johnson, Critical and Historical Essays.

The first volume of his "Charles V." may justly be regarded as the greatest step which the human mind had yet made in the philosophy of history. Extending his views beyond the admirable survey which Montesquieu had given of the rise and decline of the Roman Empire, he aimed at giving a view of the progress of society in modern times.-ALISON, SIR ARCHIBALD, 1844, Guizot, Blackwood's Magazine, vol. 56, p. 790.

For the "History of Charles V." Robertson received £4500, then supposed to be the largest sum ever paid for the copyright of a single work. --CURWEN, HENRY, 1873, A History of Booksellers, p. 66.

"A View of the Progress of Society in Europe, from the Subversion of the Roman Empire to the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century." 8vo., Edinburgh, 1818. This volume is properly an introduction to the author's "History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V.," and is usually to be found in the various editions of that work. This was perhaps the first really philosophical view of the Middle Ages ever written. In calmness of judgment, in breadth of scholarship, and in comprehensiveness of treatment it still has no superior among the shorter treatises on the Middle Ages. . . The "proofs and illustrations" form nearly half of the whole volume, and are not the least important and interesting portion of the work.

They abound in facts of the utmost interest and importance. It is difficult to discriminate against any portion of this excellent piece of historical writing; but the first and the third section will be found by most students more interesting, if not more valuable than the third. ADAMS, CHARLES KENDALL, 1882, A Manual of Historical Literature, pp. 156, 157.

In 1769 he issued the three volumes of his "History of the Reign of Charles V.," one of the best paid pieces of literary labour ever undertaken by a human pen, and this was followed by several historical works of minor importance. Robertson was not more impressed than Hume with the necessity of close, independent,

and impartial research, but he was no less graceful in style, and he diffused over his best work an even milder radiance of philosophic reflection. Hume and Robertson are strangely alike as historians. Neither descends the hill to survey the country at his feet, but each has exceedingly long sight, and the power of taking wide and harmonious Pisgah-views from his selfadopted eminence. Robertson, however, is certainly superior to Hume in his skill in making general estimates of history. It is not the least of Robertson's claims to our consideration that the opening chapters of his "Charles V." had the effect of awakening a historic sense in the childhood of Carlyle, supplying him with "new worlds of knowledge, vistas in all directions."-GOSSE, EDMUND, 1888, A History of Eighteenth Century Literature, p. 304.

His "History of the Emperor Charles V." is written with a general sagacity of truth which is hardly affected by several faulty details.-ROBERTSON, J. LOGIE, 1894, A History of English Literature, p. 239.

HISTORY OF AMERICA

1777

I could not go through your work at one breath at that time, though I have done it since. I am now enabled to thank you, not only for the honor you have done me, but for the great satisfaction, and the infinite variety and compass of instruction I have received from your incomparable work. Everything has been done which was so naturally to be expected from the author of the "History of Scotland," and of the age of Charles V. I believe few books have done more than this, towards clearing up dark points, correcting errors, and removing prejudices. You have too the rare secret of rekindling an interest on subjects that had so often been treated, and in which every thing which could feed a vital flame appeared to have been consumed. sure I read many parts of your history with that fresh concern and anxiety which attend those who are not previously apprised of the event. You have besides, thrown quite a new light on the present state of the Spanish provinces, and furnished both materials and hints for a rational theory of what may be expected from them in future. The part which I

I am

read with the greatest pleasure is, the discussion on the manners and character of the inhabitants of that New World. I have always thought with you that we possess at this time very great advantages towards the knowledge of human nature. We need no longer go to history to trace it in all stages and periods.BURKE, EDMUND, 1777, Letter to Dr. Robertson.

I have seen enough to convince me that the present publication will support, and, if possible, extend the fame of the author; that the materials are collected with care, and arranged with skill; that the progress of discovery is displayed with learning and perspicuity; that the dangers, the achievements, and the views [?] of the Spanish adventurers, are related with a temperate spirit; and that the most original, perhaps the most curious portion of human manners is at length rescued from the hands of sophists and declaimers.—GIBBON, EDWARD, 1777, Letter to Robertson, July 14.

After all, however, the principal charm of this, as well as of his other histories, arises from the graphical effect of his narrative, wherever his subject affords him materials for an interesting picture. What force and beauty of painting in his circumstantial details of the new voyage of Columbus; of the first aspect of the new Continent; and of the interviews of the natives with the Spanish adventurers! With what animation and fire does he follow the steps of Cortes through the varying fortunes of his vast and hazardous career; yielding, it must be owned, somewhat too much to the influence of the passions which his hero felt; but bestowing, at the same time, the warm tribute of admiration and sympathy on the virtues and fate of those whom he subdued! The arts, the institutions, and the manners of Europe and of America; but above all, the splendid characters of Cortes and of Guatimozin, enable him, in this part of his work, to add to its other attractions that of the finest contrasts which occur in history. STEWART, DUGALD, 17961801, Account of the Life and Writings of William Robertson.

No

have put twice as much into his book. Robertson is like a man who has packed gold in wool: the wool takes up more room than the gold. No, Sir; I always thought Robertson would be crushed by his own weight, would be buried under his own ornaments. Goldsmith tells you shortly all you want to know: Robertson detains you a great deal too long. man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second time; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please again and again. I would say to Robertson what an old tutor of a college said to one of his pupils: 'Read over your compositions, and whenever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.' -JOHNSON, SAMUEL, 1773, Life by Boswell, ed. Hill, vol. II, p. 272.

A disciple of the old school of slandera liar and one for whom bedlam is no

bedlam.—WHITAKER, JOHN, 1787, Mary Queen of Scots Vindicated.

Dr. Robertson shone when he wrote the History of his own country, with which he was acquainted. All his other works. are collections tacked together for the purpose; but as he has not the genius, penetration, sagacity, and art of Mr. Gibbon, he cannot melt his materials together, and make them elucidate and even improve and produce new discoveries; in short, he cannot, like Mr. Gibbon, make an original picture with some bits of Mosaic.-WALPOLE, HORACE, 1791, To the Countess of Ossory, Nov. 23; Letters, ed. Cunningham, vol. Ix, p. 361.

The perfect composition, the nervous language, the well-tuned periods of Dr. Robertson, inflamed me to the ambitious hope that I might one day tread in his footsteps: the calm philosophy, the careless inimitable beauties of his friend and rival, often forced me to close the volume with a mixed sensation of delight and despair. -GIBBON, EDWARD, 1793, Autobiography.

None of Dr. Robertson's periods with three members.-LAMB, CHARLES, 1800, Letters, ed. Ainger, March 1, vol. 1, p. 115.

The histories of Robertson abound in the finest descriptions, the most pleasing delineations of character, the most dignified and judicious mixture of reflections: and more especially they are distinguished by a style of narration at once manly,

copious, and easy. But all these descriptions, delineations, reflections, and even this narrative itself, are too general for practical use and application. The politician and political œconomist will search these writings in vain for the accurate details of fact which they have a right to expect from one who investigates the subjects of particular men and nations. In plain terms, Dr. Robertson appears to have studied grace and dignity more than usefulness. He has chosen those features of every figure which he could best paint, rather than those which were most worthy of the pencil.

The charms of Robertson's style, and the full flow of his narration, which is always sufficiently minute for ordinary readers, will render his works immortal in the hands of the bulk of mankind. But the scientific reader requires something more than periods which fill his ear, and general statements which gratify by amusing; he even requires more than a general textbook, a happy arrangement of intricate. subjects, which may enable him to pursue them in their details. When we

repair to the works of Robertson for the purpose of finding facts, we are instantly carried away by the stream of his narrative, and forget the purpose of our errand to the fountain. As soon as we can stop ourselves, we discover that our search has been vain, and that we must apply to those sources from which he drew and culled his supplies. BROWN, THOMAS, 1803, Stewart's Account of Dr. Robertson, Edinburgh Review, vol. 2, pp. 240, 241.

Robertson's style is most attractive: his language select, and, though ornate, yet lucid and unaffected. His weak side is that which has regard to research and import, certainly the most important of all historic qualities. It is now universally admitted, even in England, that he is unreliable, superficial, and often full of errors as to facts: yet his style is wont to be held up as a pattern, owing, probably, to the degeneracy of taste. But even his style is, in my opinion, too verbose and antithetical. SCHLEGEL, FREDERICK, 1815-59, Lectures on the History of Literature, Lecture xiv.

Do you like Robertson? I used to find in him a shrewd, in him a shrewd, a systematic, but not a great understanding; and no more heart than in my boot. He was a kind of deist