427 Libr Miles 7 aims of those who study it. 3. Of the histo- ry of the firft ages; with reflections on the state of ancient history, profane and facred, 30 LET. IV. r. That there is in history fufficient authenticity to render it useful, notwithstand- ing all objections to the contrary. 2. Of the method and due restrictions to be obfer. · LET. V. 1. The great ufe of history, pro- perly fo called, as diftinguished from the wri- tings of mere annalifts and antiquaries. 2. Greek and Roman hiftorians. 3. Some idea of a complete hiftory. 4. Further cautions to be observed in this ftudy, and the regu- lation of it, according to the different pro- feffions and fituations of men: above all, the ufe to be made of it by thofe who are called to the fervice of their country, country, viz. From the end of the fifteenth century to the prefent. The divifion of this into three particular periods; in order to a fketch of the hiftory and state of Europe LET. VII. A sketch of the ftate and hiftory OF SOME ACCOUNT OF THE A UT H OR. L ORD VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE defcended from a family, which, for its antiquity, power,. and large poffeffions, has ever been eminently diftinguished in the English annals Titles of dignity, as connected with property, were in this family before it appeared in our records; for the Ports were great, Barons before the Norman conqueft, and the St. John's became fo in virtue of it. His grandfather, Sir Walter St. John, reprefent-. ed the county of Wilts in two parliaments, in the reign of King Charles II. and had the fame honour in the fecond parliament held by King William. He had iffue by his Lady one fon, Henry, who married the Lady Mary, fecond daughter and co-heiress of Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick, by whom he had only one fon, Henry, who is the author of these volumes. He was born about the clofe of the laft Dutch war, in the reign of King Charles II, and as it was. a very great comfort to Sir Walter, to fee his fon's apparent heir formed under his eye; fo it was the peculiar felicity of young Mr. St. John, that not only his education and first fettlement in the world, but even his first entrance into public bufinefs, was under the care and inspection of two fathers, both men of character, worth, and experience. Mr. St. John, after having paffed through Eaton fchool, was removed to Oxford; and by the time he left that univerfity, was defervedly confidered as one who had the fairest opportunity of making a fhining figure in the world. He was in his perfon wonderfully agreeable; he had a dignity mixed with fweetness in his looks, and a manner that would have captivated the heart, if his perfon had been ever fo indifferent. He was remarkable for his vivacity, and had a moft retentive memory; fo that whatever he read he made it entirely his own, and whether he was to speak or to write upon any subject, his favourite authors occurred to him just as he had read them. In the earlier parts of his life he did not read much, or at leaft many books, being unwilling, as he faid, to fill his head with what did not deserve a place there. In the fucceeding part of his life a great deal of his time was employed in reading, but ftill with much caution; and he frequently complained of that neceffity which arofe from political controverfy, of being obliged to perufe a multitude of miferable performances. He had a great quicknefs of penetration, could very happily distinguish the real from the apparent view of polemical writers; and had a sprightliness and perfpicuity in delivering |