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perfectly written； but especially a Grecian history perfectly written should
be a political institute for all nations。〃 It has not occurred to him that a
Grecian history； perfectly written； should also be a complete record of the
rise and progress of poetry； philosophy； and the arts。 Here his work is
extremely deficient。 Indeed； though it may seem a strange thing to say of
a gentleman who has published so many quartos； Mr Mitford seems to
entertain a feeling； bordering on contempt； for literary and speculative
pursuits。 The talents of action almost exclusively attract his notice； and
he talks with very complacent disdain of 〃the idle learned。〃 Homer；
indeed； he admires； but principally； I am afraid； because he is convinced
that Homer could neither read nor write。 He could not avoid speaking of
Socrates； but he has been far more solicitous to trace his death to political
causes； and to deduce from it consequences unfavourable to Athens； and to
popular governments； than to throw light on the character and doctrines of
the wonderful man；
〃From whose mouth issued forth Mellifluous streams that watered all
the schools Of Academics； old and new； with those Surnamed Peripatetics；
and the sect Epicurean； and the Stoic severe。〃
He does not seem to be aware that Demosthenes was a great orator； he
represents him sometimes as an aspirant demagogue； sometimes as an
adroit negotiator； and always as a great rogue。 But that in which the
Athenian excelled all men of all ages； that irresistible eloquence； which at
the distance of more than two thousand years stirs our blood； and brings
tears into our eyes； he passes by with a few phrases of commonplace
commendation。 The origin of the drama； the doctrines of the sophists；
the course of Athenian education； the state of the arts and sciences； the
whole domestic system of the Greeks； he has almost completely neglected。
Yet these things will appear； to a reflecting man； scarcely less worthy of
attention than the taking of Sphacteria or the discipline of the targeteers of
Iphicrates。
This； indeed； is a deficiency by no means peculiar to Mr Mitford。 Most
people seem to imagine that a detail of public occurrences the operations
of sieges…the changes of administrationsthe treatiesthe conspiracies
the rebellionsis a complete history。 Differences of definition are
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logically unimportant； but practically they sometimes produce the most
momentous effects。 Thus it has been in the present case。 Historians
have； almost without exception； confined themselves to the public
transactions of states； and have left to the negligent administration of
writers of fiction a province at least equally extensive and valuable。
All wise statesmen have agreed to consider the prosperity or adversity
of nations as made up of the happiness or misery of individuals； and to
reject as chimerical all notions of a public interest of the community；
distinct from the interest of the component parts。 It is therefore strange
that those whose office it is to supply statesmen with examples and
warnings should omit； as too mean for the dignity of history；
circumstances which exert the most extensive influence on the state of
society。 In general； the under current of human life flows steadily on；
unruffled by the storms which agitate the surface。 The happiness of the
many commonly depends on causes independent of victories or defeats； of
revolutions or restorations；causes which can be regulated by no laws；
and which are recorded in no archives。 These causes are the things which
it is of main importance to us to know； not how the Lacedaemonian
phalanx was broken at Leuctra；not whether Alexander died of poison or
by disease。 History； without these； is a shell without a kernel； and such is
almost all the history which is extant in the world。 Paltry skirmishes and
plots are reported with absurd and useless minuteness； but improvements
the most essential to the comfort of human life extend themselves over the
world； and introduce themselves into every cottage； before any annalist
can condescend； from the dignity of writing about generals and
ambassadors； to take the least notice of them。 Thus the progress of the
most salutary inventions and discoveries is buried in impenetrable mystery；
mankind are deprived of a most useful species of knowledge； and their
benefactors of their honest fame。 In the meantime every child knows by
heart the dates and adventures of a long line of barbarian kings。 The
history of nations； in the sense in which I use the word； is often best
studied in works not professedly historical。 Thucydides； as far as he goes；
is an excellent writer； yet he affords us far less knowledge of the most
important particulars relating to Athens than Plato or Aristophanes。 The
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little treatise of Xenophon on Domestic Economy contains more historical
information than all the seven books of his Hellenics。 The same may be
said of the Satires of Horace； of the Letters of Cicero； of the novels of Le
Sage； of the memoirs of Marmontel。 Many others might be mentioned；
but these sufficiently illustrate my meaning。
I would hope that there may yet appear a writer who may despise the
present narrow limits； and assert the rights of history over every part of her
natural domain。 Should such a writer engage in that enterprise； in which
I cannot but consider Mr Mitford as having failed； he will record； indeed；
all that is interesting and important in military and political transactions；
but he will not think anything too trivial for the gravity of history which is
not too trivial to promote or diminish the happiness of man。