These three are the most commendable among the historian's antagonists. They were joined by a crowd of others. Sir David Dalrymple; Dr. Chelsum, chaplain to the bishop of Worcester ;* Mr. Davies, fellow of Baliol College, Oxford; Mr. East Apthorpe, rector of St. Mary-le- Bow, London;t J. Beattie; Mr. J. Milner; Mr. Taylor; Mr. Travis, prebendary of Chester and vicar of East Ham; Dr. Whitaker, who wrote under the style of an " Anonymous Gentleman;" Mr. H. Kett;§ and others, arrayed themselves in opposition to the new historian. He answered some of them in a pamphlet, entitled A Vindication of some_passages in the 15th and 16th chapters of the History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. This vindication, triumphant on some points, weak on others, betrayed, by its extreme bitterness, all the irritation which these attacks had produced in Gibbon; and that irritation might lead us to suspect that he did not feel himself to be quite invulnerable. Still he changed none of his opinions in the remaining part of his work, and this must be taken at least as a proof of his sincerity.

All my exertions to procure these works have obtained for me but few of them; those of Dr. Chelsum, Mr. Davies, Mr. Travis, and the anonymous author, are all that I have had the opportunity of reading. From these I have extracted some interesting observations, of which, when unable to carry them farther or corroborate them by authorities, I have always indicated the

Sources.

It was not in England alone that commentators on Gibbon came forward. A translation of his History into German was undertaken by F. A. G. Wenck, professor of jurisprudence at Leipzig, a learned and estimable man. The first volume of this appeared at Leipzig in 1779, with the addition of notes, copious, precise, and erudite. I have made free use of them. Unfortunately M. Wenck did not persevere in what he had undertaken. The succeeding volumes were translated by M. Schreiter, also a professor at Leipzig, who appended only a few notes, and those very insignificant. In his preface, M. Wenck announced his intention of publishing a separate dissertation on the 15th and 16th chapters, in order to examine Gibbon's view of the propagation of Christianity. He died two years ago, and had never given this to the world. Ignorant of his death, I addressed a letter to him, requesting that it might be intrusted to me.. His son

Remarks on the two last chapters of the first volume of Mr. Gibbon's History, by J. Chelsum, D.D. 2nd edit. 8vo., Oxford, 1778.

Letters on the prevalence of Christianity, before its civil establishment, with Observations on Mr. Gibbon's History, &c. 8vo. 1778.

" Letters to Edward Gibbon, Esq. 2nd edit. 8vo., London, 1785.

Bampton Lectures, by the Rev. H. Kett. 8vo. 1791. A representation of the onduct and opinions of the primitive Christians, with remarks on certain assertions of Mr. Gibbon and Dr. Priestly. In eight Sermons, ty the Rev. H. Kett

I have used the 2nd edit. London, 1779

replied, informing me that no such treatise had been found among his father's papers. There is another German translation of Gibbon, but it is unknown to me, and I understand that it contains no original notes.

The history of the establishment and propagation of Christianity, as given by Gibbon, has been specially controverted by many German theologians; amongst others, by M. Walterstern,* and M. Luderwald ; but I know no more than the titles of their books. M. Hugo, law-professor at Göttingen, published in 1789, with critical notes, a translation of the 44th chapter, in which Gibbon treats of the Roman jurisprudence: but his notes, some of which I have borrowed, contain in general little fact, and are not always sufficiently sustained by proof. In French I have read no attack on Gibbon, but a kind of dissertation, inserted in the 7th volume of the Spectateur Français. I thought it a very moderate performance, abounding more in argument than fact.

No other works than these are known to me, of which the History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, is the immediate subject. Far from sufficient for me have been those which have come into my hands. I extracted from them all that appeared to me most interesting, and then prepared for myself a critical commentary, of some extent, on such parts as I had still to examine. It is right, that I should point out here the principal sources from which I have drawn information and facts. As far as I could have access to them, I have, of course, gone to all the original works, of which Gibbon made use, such as the Augustan History, Dion Cassius, Ammianus Marcellinus, Eusebius, Lactantius, and the like; but I have also consulted some of the best writers, by whom these topics have been the more carefully and extensively considered, because they were the more especial objects of their study. In tracing the history of the early church, I have been greatly assisted by the works of the learned Lardner, by Spittler's Compendium of Ecclesiastical History, Henke's Ecclesiastical History, Planck's History of the Constitution of the Christian Church, and his manuscript lectures on the History of Christian Doctrines; C. G. F. Walch's History of Heresies, Michaelis's Introduction to the New Testament, Paulus's Commentary on the New Testament, Tenneman's History of Philosophy, and some private dissertations. In sketching the migrations of the northern tribes, information which I should vainly have sought elsewhere, has been afforded me by Schlözer's Northern History, Gatterer's Universal History, Adelung's

Die Ausbreitung des Christenthums aus natürlichen Ursachen, von W. S. Walterstern. (The Propagation of Christianity by Natural Causes). 8vo. Hamburg, 1788. +Die Ausbreitung des Christlichen Religion, von J. B. Luderwald. (The Propagati of the Christian Religion). Svo. Helmstadt, 1788.

Ancient History of the Teutonic Races, and Stritter's Memoria Populorum ex Historiis Byzantinis erutæ. To the labours of these able critics we are indebted for all that has been best ascertained respecting that portion of history. Lastly the Dissertations, added by M. Kleuker to his translation of the Zendavesta, and Anquetil's Memoirs, have supplied me with the means of correcting many of Gibbon's errors with regard to the ancient religion of Persia.

These details will be pardoned; for truth demands that I should name the works, without which I never could have executed my plan, and that I should honour the learned whose cooperation, as I may say, inspired me with some confidence in myself.

It still remains for me to acknowledge how much I owe to the advice of one, who is as generally enlightened as he is versed in those particular researches in which I have been engaged. Without the guidance and the library of M. Stapfer, I should often have been at a loss to discover works whence trustworthy information was to be gained, and many such would have remained totally unknown to me; his mind and his books have both been laid open for my service. Should any merit be ascribed to my labours, I shall only have to regret that I cannot point out how large a share of it ought to be attributed to him.

I hoped to have prefixed to this edition a Letter on the Life and Character of Gibbon, promised to me by one whose friendship is an honour. The cause of my disappointment will be found explained at the close of this Preface. I have endeavoured, partially at least, to supply its place by a Memoir, in which I have scrupulously used the materials and details received from the hand that I hoped would have arranged them in connected order.

Letter from M. Suard to M. Guizot.

You wished, sir, that I should impart to you my ideas of Edward Gibbon. You thought that my personal acquaintance with him, must have placed his person and character before me in a different light to that in which they appear to those who know him only from his works. I agreed with you; and was not undeceived, till I endeavoured to collect my thoughts, and took up my pen to express them. I saw Gibbon at London, at Paris, and in his delightful retirement at Lausanne. But in each position I saw him only as a man of letters and as a man of the world. I had opportunities of observing the qualities of his mind, his literary opinions, his tone and manners in society. But I was never admitted to that confidence which reveals secret

sentiment, and discloses the distinctive features of individual character. I was never allowed to perceive how far these either accorded or contrasted with the details of conduct, and so might have afforded a more marked vivacity, and greater truth of colouring for the portrait, which I was called upon to trace.

By gathering together my recollections, it would be no difficult task for me to indicate in Gibbon's person, deportment, and manner of speaking, some eccentricities, or negligent habits, which malignant frivolity ridiculed, and by which mediocrity complacently imagined, that the solid talents and conversational powers of a great mind were brought down to its own level. What purpose would it now answer to recall the fact, that this eminent writer had an ill-shaped figure, a nose buried between prominent cheeks, an obese body supported by very slender legs. and that he spoke French with an affected pronunciation ard shrill tone, although at the same time with uncommon correctness? His personal defects lie buried in the grave; but he has left an immortal work, which alone ought now to occupy all rational minds. His own memoirs of his life and writings, the collection of his letters, and the journal of his studies, supply all that now can be interesting about him; to these nothing could be added but insignificant and questionable anecdotes.

To judge and to pourtray him is the proper province of one best acquainted with his writings, and most studiously versed in the history of the decline and fall of the Roman empire. To you, therefore, sir, I have always been convinced, that this work should be assigned. Still, responding to your wishes, I had begun to undertake it, when disease brought on me sufferings, of which I can neither foresee the consequences, nor calculate the term; and incapacitated me for all exertion.

Permit me, then, to leave in your hands the memoir which I had engaged to furnish. I send you some materials and scattered memoranda which I had collected for this purpose. I shall rejoice if my reminiscences, which you have often heard from me colloquially, can be associated with your observations and reflections. Allow me, sir, once more to express the sentiments of profound esteem and affectionate attachment which I have so long cherished for you.

SUARD.

A MEMOIR

OF

THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF GIBBON. (TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF M. GUIZOT.)

DETAILS relating to the character of men eminent for deeds or words, are not collected merely to gratify a frivolous curiosity. Such information influences our judgment of their actions and writings. Celebrity rarely escapes the prying inquiries of a restless distrust. Pretending to understand the intentions of those who act a public part, we endeavour to penetrate into their secret sentiments, that we may compare these with the particular idea on which we have founded our own previously formed opinion. It is of importance, then, that their intentions should be justly appreciated; and if it be impossible to remove from human nature its inherent disposition to prejudge, let it at least have a solid and reasonable groundwork. Nor can it be denied, that there are works of which our opinion ought to be influenced by that which we entertain of their author. Among writers, the historian is, perhaps, most bound to render to the public a personal account of himself. He gives security for the truth of the facts which he relates. The value of that security ought to be known. The sufficiency of the guarantee will not be inferred solely from the moral character of him who gives it and the confidence which his veracity inspires. The habitual direction of his mind must also be taken into account, as well as the opinions which he is most disposed to adopt, and the sentiments to which he most readily yields. These compose the atmosphere in which he lives, and colour the medium through which he beholds what he undertakes to describe. "I shall always seek the truth," said Gibbon, before he began to write history, "although as yet I have scarcely found anything but its semblance.' Here it is, among these probabilities, that the historian must find and restore truth from the disfigurements of time. His is the duty to judge of the worth of his materials, and ours the right to estimate his decision, according to the opinion we form of the judge. In our idea of the requisites to form an impartial historian, we place foremost a passionless temperament, habits of moderation, and that middle station in life, where ambition is dormant and the pressure of want unknown. In this point of view none could