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LETTER III.

the scriptures are so far from giving us light intogénéral history, tliat tliey increase the obsmrityeven of those parts to which they hâve the nearestrelation. We hâve thtrefore neither in profanenor in íacred authors fuch authe'ntic, clear, distinct,and full accounts of the originels ofancient nations,and of the gréât events of those agts that are corn-monly called the first âges , as deserve to go bythe name of hiítory, or as assorts lufficient Materialsfor chronology and history.

I might now proceed to observe to yourlordfhip ho w this has happened, not only by theneceilary conséquences of human nature, and rheordinary course of human affairs. but by the po-li cy, artifice, corruption, and folly of manitnd. Butthis would be to heap digression upon digression,and to présumé too much on your patience I llialltherefore content myself to apply thefe refltòtionson the state of ancient history to the llucty ofhistory, and to the method to be observed in itjas soon as your lordsliip has rested yourí'elf a littleaster reading, and I aster writing lo long a setter.