importance of such materials; that throws into the shade, or blots out from the canvass, those details, which, however interesting they may seem to the actors, are of no real value to posterity; and leaves the great picture of human affairs charged with such features only, as deserve a lasting memorial, and preserve their importance long after their immediate interest has ceased to enhance it *."-The interval between 1558 and 1835 remains a fine field for historic genius. Innumerable "histories," "memoirs," "sketches," &c., have, from time to time, been given of particular periods and kingdoms; but there is yet wanting a uniform and combined History of Europe during the interval-hiatus valde deflendus-alluded to. Perhaps the student cannot, at present, do better than proceed from Robertson's Charles the Fifth to Letter LXVI. of "Russell's Modern Europe," a very meagre work, it is true-taking care to substitute Hume, and even Smollet, for the corresponding portions of English History, as far down as 1789; at which period a very distinguished living author, Mr. Alison (of the Scottish bar) commences his admirable "History of Europe during the French Revolution, ending with the Peace of Presburg, in 1806." The two first volumes only are at present published; but the two concluding ones are announced to be in the

* Univ. Hist. vol. vi. pp. 303, 4.-This beautiful observation appears to have been suggested by the opening paragraph of Hume's chapter on the reign of Henry III.

press. This work will richly pay a perusal. To the most exemplary accuracy and impartiality in stating facts and arguments *, Mr. Alison adds a chaste philosophic eloquence that is equally fascinating and instructive.

By the time, however, that the student has advanced thus far, he will have become capable of selecting for himself proper works for perusal, as time and inclination may prompt him to prosecute historical studies. He will never lose sight, however, of the work with which he set out-Lord Woodhouselee's; but let him, while expanding the course of reading there indicated, preserve, by repeated reference and perusal, a due connection and dependence between the parts and the whole of universal history.

Surely there is nothing formidable in the course here suggested! The student, however, will do nothing without that fixedness of purpose before spoken of, which will enable him to go steadily through with it. If he is perpetually changing, dipping first into this, then into that, and the other books; sometimes long intermitting his historical readings, or hurrying over the pages as if against time, merely to make believe to others, or to himself, that he is going on, he will but have wasted his precious time; he will have made no substantial acquisitions of a knowledge which is pre-eminently

There is not a fact stated throughout the history, for which Mr. Alison does not give his authority in the margin.

important to an aspiring lawyer, but got a confused smattering of history, which will but lead him into endless error and mortification.--It will be observed that little or no mention has yet been made of English history, except so far as it forms a part of the general course of historical studies: it is a subject of such capital importance, as to warrant a separate chapter *.

Having thus laid his foundations deep and sure in general history, the student's next object will probably be to acquaint himself with the leading principles of Political Economy: a science of very modern growth, and the elements of which are yet by no means well settled +. The student, however, will at once go to the fountain head, Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations‡," a wonderful work, the very Principia of political science. Unless, however, he determine upon studying, that is, reading in earnest-this Treatise, the student had better leave it alone altogether. Let him not attend to the sciolists, whom he may hear talking of Adam Smith's book as obsolete-radically defective; or plague himself by entering at once upon the clashing systems of the present day. The study of Adam

* See post-" On the Study of English History."

The student will find, in the Appendix to Whately's Logic, that scarce any two writers on political economy affix the same meaning to the following seven principal terms:" Value, Wealth, Labour, Capital, Rent, Wages, Profits!

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Mr. M'Culloch's edition will serve to apprise him of those portions of the original work which are generally allowed to be at variance with modern doctrines and discoveries.

Smith he will find a right profitable one; and without it, will never know what the "political economy" is, that he hears so much of he will be confounded by the" din of all that smithery" carrying on by Ricardo, Malthus, M'Culloch, Mill, Storch, Say, Torrens, and fifty others!

Mr. McCulloch's Commercial Dictionary will be found a vast store-house of authentic information on all points connected even in the remotest degree with arts, trade, commerce, and manufactures. To the political economist, such a work is, of course, indispensable; to the mere lawyer, even, it is very valuable. Knowledge of this kind must be early acquired by him who wishes to prepare himself for extensive practice. Suppose a brief put into the hands of a young lawyer, involving mechanical, scientific, or commercial topics: how painful his position, if unequal to the task, how splendid his chance of distinction if equal to it! Not long ago a fire-insurance cause was tried, involving the right to a very large sum of money, which ultimately turned on the true nature of fixed and volatile oils: all the chemists of any note were examined, cross-examined, and re-examined with exquisite skill by the counsel for both parties, the present Lord Chancellor. Lyndhurst and Lord Chief Baron Abinger. The short-hand writer's printed report of this case (Severn v. King) is now lying before the author; and the extensive scientific knowledge displayed by these distinguished persons, as well as by

the other counsel, is really astonishing.-But is this mentioned as a case per se? By no means; go to Nisi Prius on any day you will, and judge for yourself. You will there see how useless, how eminently dangerous it is, to think of relying upon any sudden "cram" for such occasions as these, which is calculated only to confuse and bewilder you, if unluckily drawn but a hair's-breadth from what you had prepared beforehand. A very distressing instance of this kind occurred not long ago; the consequences were signally unfortunate! The student will do well to purchase two or three of the treatises published in Dr. Lardner's Cyclopædia on the practical subjects which often furnish occasion for legal investigation; such as Silk Manufacture, Manufactures in Metal, Porcelain and Glass Manufacture; and the forthcoming ones on the Cotton Manufacture, by Dr. Ure, and the Preliminary Discourse on the Arts and Manufactures, by the Baron C. Dupin; which are likely, from the reputations of their writers, to be highly interesting

Mr. Chitty, in his last work, gives two or three instances of ignorance in these matters, which are scarcely credible.

"It is well known," he says," "that a judge was so entirely ignorant of insurance causes, that after having been occupied six hours in trying an action on a policy of insurance upon goods (Russia duck) from Russia, he, in his address to the jury, complained that no evidence had been given to show how Russia ducks (mistaking the cloth of that name for the bird) could be damaged by sea-water, and to what extent!!!"-Chitt. Gen. Pr. of the Law, vol. ii. p. 321, note c.