HISTORY. CLASS III. CONTINUED. The Hiftory of England. CHAPTER XII. THE advantages, which refult from an acquaintance with the hiftory of our own country, are too obvious to require many previous obfervations. Such knowledge is of the greatest importance to all those who take an active part in the public fervice, either as officers of the army or navy, magiftrates, or members of parliament. And to perfons of all other defcriptions it is equally agreeable, if not equally neceffary; because, as every Englishman finds a pleasure in deciding upon the propriety of political measures, and eftimating the merits of those who direct the helm of government; he cannot form correct opinions, how far they are likely to conduce to the national intereft or glory, if he should neglect to lay the foundation, upon which alone fuch correct opinions can be builta. a My statements in general are taken from Carte's Hiftory of England, Blackstone's Commentaries, De Lolme on the Conftitution, and Salmon's chronological Hiftorian for the dates. VOL. II. B The . The love of our country naturally awakens in us a fpirit of curiofity to inquire into the conduct of our ancestors, and to learn the memorable events of their hiftory: and this is certainly a far ftronger motive, than any which ufually prompts us to the pursuit of other hiftorical researches. Nothing that happened to our forefathers can be a matter of indifference to us. It is natural to indulge the mixed emotions of eftecm and veneration for them; and our regard is not founded upon blind partiality, but refults from the most steady and rational attachment. We are their defcendants, we reap the fruits of their public and private labours, and we not only fhare the inheritance of their property, but derive reputation from their noble actions. A Ruffian or a Turk may have a itrong predilection for his country, and entertain a profound veneration for his ancestors: but, deftitute as he himself of an equal share of the bleffings which refult from fecurity, liberty, and impartial laws, he can never feel the fame generous and pure patriotifm, which glows in the breast of a Briton. "If an Englishman," faid the great Frederic of Pruffia, "has no knowledge of thofe kings that filled the throne of Perfia; if his memory is not embarraffed with that infinite number of popes that ruled the church, we are ready to excufe him: but we fhall hardly have the fame indulgence for him, if he is a stranger to the origin of parliaments, to the customs of his country, and to the |