Of the S T U D Y of H I S T O R Y.

l.í

what art and industry can give to no man.But fuch examples yvìII prove nothing againstme, because I admit that the study of history,without expérience, is infufficient ; but assert,that expérience itself is so without genius. Geniusis préférable to the other two>; but I would wiílito íind the three together : for how gréât sbevera genius may be, and how much foever lie mayacquire new light and heat, as lie proceeds inhis rapid course , certain it is that lie will neveríliine with the full lustre , n or slied the fullinfluence he is capable of, unless to his ownexpérience he adds the expérience of other menand other âges. Genius, without the improvement,at least, of expérience, is what cornets once werethought to be, a blazing meteor, irregular in hiscourse, and dangerous in his approach ; of no uséto any system, and able to destroy any. Meresons of earth , if they hâve expérience withoutany Knowledge of the history of the world, arebut hais fcholars in the science of mankind. And ifthey are conversant in history without expérience,they are worse than ignorant; they are pédants,always incapable, fometimes meddling and pre-fuming. The man, who has ail three, is an honorto his country, and a public blefling : and fuch,I trust , your lordfliip will be in this century, asyour grea.t - grand - father* was in the last.

I hâve insisted a little the longer on thishead,and hâve made thefe distinctions the rather, becausethough I attribute a gréât deal more, than many will

* Barl ef CLARENDON.